Renewable Energy in Iceland - Education and Research

Education and Research

There are several educational institutions that offering education in Renewable Energy in Iceland on university level.

The University of Iceland is a progressive educational and scientific institution, renowned in the global scientific community for its research. It is a state university, situated in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. A modern, diversified and rapidly developing institution, the University of Iceland offers opportunities for study and research in almost 300 programmes spanning most fields of science and scholarship: Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Humanities, Sciences and Engineering. Some 9700 students are registered at UI and 1000 full-time employees.

Reykjavik University has the mission to create and communicate knowledge, in order to increase the competitiveness of individuals, firms and society as a whole, while at the same time enhancing the quality of life of their students and staff. The aim is to make Reykjavik University the centre for international research collaborations in Europe and across the Atlantic. The university consists of five academic schools: School of Law, School of Business, School of Health and Education, School of Computer Science and the School of Science and Engineering. Reykjavik University is a community of over 3000 students and over 500 full-time and part-time employees. About half of all instructors at RU are active in Icelandic industry, and about 10% are guest instructors from overseas.

Keilir, Atlantic center of excellence in Ásbrú next to the Keflavik International Airport, offer a multidisciplinary BSc. programs in energy technology in co-operation with the University of Iceland. The school also runs a state-of-the-art research center in energy sciences.

RES - The School for Renewable Energy Science, located in Akureyri North Iceland is offering an intensive and unique interdisciplinary research oriented one-year graduate (M.Sc.) programme in Renewable Energy Science. The program is offered in cooperation with University of Iceland and University of Akureyri, as well as in partnership with a number of leading technical universities around the world. In 2009 the school offers four specializations of study: 1. Geothermal Energy; 2. Fuel Cell Systems and Hydrogen; 3. Biofuels and Bioenergy; and 4. Energy Systems & Policies. RES offers also summer programs and individual courses in the field.

REYST located in Reykjavik, is also offering MSc. Studies in the field of renewable Energy. The foundation for Reykjavik Energy Graduate School of Sustainable Systems was laid in April 2007 when Reykjavik Energy, the University of Iceland and Reykjavik University signed an agreement on establishing an international graduate programme on sustainable energy.

RESYT is an interdisciplinary school in higher education for engineers and scientists, has a focus on global environmental protection and sustainable use of energy resources and creates leading experts in management, design and research in utilization of sustainable energy. The unique expertise of all its founding partners forms an excellent platform for the school to build on.

The largest research institution in renewable energy in the country is University of Iceland which is state university, founded in 1911 and situated in the heart of Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland. As a scientific institution is it renowned in the global scientific community for its research in renewable energy.

Another state university University of Akureyri, located in Akureyri in North Iceland, is also conducting various research in the field of renewable energy.

One of the main tasks of the National Energy Authority of Iceland is to carry out energy research and provide consulting services related to energy development and energy utilization.

Several companies, public and private are conducting extensive research in the field of renewable energy.

Landsvirkjun the national electricity company of the Republic of Iceland, is both in research of hydro and geothermal as well and funding a great deal of research work in the field in the country.

Iceland Geosurvey (ÍSOR) is a public consulting and research institute providing specialist services to the Icelandic power industry, dedicated mainly to geothermal and hydro research.