Skatastaðir Power Plant C

Landsvirkjun has plans to build power plants in the twin rivers Jökulsár in Skagafjörður. The Master Plan for Hydro and Geothermal Energy Resources lists three power proposals in the area, namely Skatastaðir Power Plant B, Skatastaðir Power Plant C and Villinganes Power Plant, but all three await further assessment.

The rivers and their drainage basins are highly valued for the area‘s cultural relics, geological features and their related phenomena, water conditions, rare animal and plant species, ecosystem and soil.

Power plant construction in the rivers Jökulsár in Skagafjörður would endanger the wetlands in the fjord‘s lowland areas. The wetlands are formed of sediment deposited by the glacial rivers, that slowly but unceasingly carry glacial debris, sand and mud to sea.

Photo © Hlynur Stefánsson

The river deltas of the Héraðsvötn lake district, i.e. Skógar, Miklavatn and Áshildarholtsvatn to the west, and Eylandið, Garðsvatn, etc. to the east, are internationally listed Important Bird Areas (IBAs).

Abundant birdlife is to be found along the lowland reaches of the rivers Jökulsár in Skagafjörður. Pink-footed geese and Greylag geese nest in great numbers in the area, in addition to at least thirteen endangered bird species.

In the highland areas grows an endangered plant species named leafystem saxifrage (Saxifraga foliolosa)).

Photo © Hlynur Stefánsson

Landsvirkjun‘s plans for the Skatastaðir Power Plant C in the eastern Jökulsá in Skagafjörður would entail the construction of a diversion tunnel from the rivers Fossá and Hölkná, Nýjabæjarfjall mountain and Hraunþúfa diversion. The total length of the tunnel would be around 46 km. Estimated power output is 156 MW.

Photo © Mats Wibe Lund