Fljótsdalsvirkjun (Kárahnjúkar ) is a 690 MW hydro power station in East, Iceland. It is operated by Landsvirkjun. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 691k homes (estimated). It ranks #1 of 20 Iceland power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2008, it is around 18 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 70.7% of Iceland's electricity; the national grid averages 28 gCO₂/kWh (100.0% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1002794.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000601800; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 690 MW, Fljótsdalsvirkjun (Kárahnjúkar ) is well above the median hydro plant in Iceland (95 MW). Technically it is described as conventional storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Iceland hydro capacity
- 36.0% of 1,918 MW across 14 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 12 of 14 dated hydro plants in Iceland are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Iceland
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Landsvirkjun. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a polar tundra climate (Köppen ET) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 64.9°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 155% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 99/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with marine corrosion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #1 largest hydro power plant of 14 in Iceland by capacity.
Iceland has 14 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 1,918 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Bjarnarflag · Geothermal · 3 MW · Northeast
- Krafla · Geothermal · 60 MW · Northeast
- Laxárvirkjun 3 · Hydro · 14 MW · Northeast
Location
Coordinates 64.9471, -15.7931 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Fljótsdalsvirkjun (Kárahnjúkar )?
Fljótsdalsvirkjun (Kárahnjúkar ) is a 690 MW hydro power plant in East, Iceland, commissioned in 2008.
Who operates Fljótsdalsvirkjun (Kárahnjúkar )?
Fljótsdalsvirkjun (Kárahnjúkar ) is operated by Landsvirkjun.