Hellisheiði Power Plant and Geothermal Exhibition

Hellisheiði Power Plant is Iceland's largest geothermal power station, on the Hellisheiði mountain pass beside Route 1, about 25 km east of Reykjavík and on the main road between the city and the southern side of the Golden Circle. Inside its visitor wing, the Geothermal Exhibition explains how the plant pulls steam from the Hengill volcanic area to make electricity and heat Reykjavík's homes. It is open every day, takes under an hour and makes a good stop on a wet afternoon.

You can't tour the turbine halls themselves, but you can look into them, and the views from the balconies over the steaming pipelines are worth the visit on their own. If you are not driving, a private day with added stops can add it on request, since no scheduled coach tour stops here.

What is Hellisheiði Power Plant?

ON Power, a subsidiary of Reykjavík Energy, commissioned the plant in 2006 and has expanded it in stages since. It produces both electricity and hot water, and with a capacity of about 303 MW of electricity and 200 MW of thermal energy, it is the biggest geothermal plant in the country. The hot water goes to Reykjavík's district heating, which is why the city's taps and pools run hot.

The plant also plays a part in carbon storage research. Carbfix, a method developed in Iceland for turning carbon dioxide into stone underground, is presented in the exhibition, and a pilot direct air capture plant run by Climeworks sits on the site. Climeworks designed that plant, called Orca, to capture up to 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

What to see at the Geothermal Exhibition

The visit is self-guided with an audio guide, also available as text, and works through how geothermal energy is found, drilled, produced and distributed. Displays and 3D models show the heat exchangers and turbines up close, and windows look straight into the working turbine halls.

Science communicators are on hand to answer questions, and they are good at it. Ask about the white clouds billowing out of the plant: the exhibition says they are 99.63% pure steam.

• Turbine hall views and models of the machinery
• Exhibits on Iceland's geology and the Hengill volcanic area
• Agndofa, a multi-sensory room inspired by the Hengill landscape
• Balconies on the top floor overlooking the steam field
• Kaffi Orka café, serving coffee, tea, cocoa, pastries and a locally brewed geothermal beer
• A souvenir shop with Icelandic design and local products

The building is worth a look from outside too. Its tilted halls echo the layers of rock along Iceland's plate boundary, and the spear-shaped structure above the entrance points towards Snæfellsjökull, the glacier Jules Verne made the gateway to the centre of the Earth.

Geothermal Exhibition prices and opening hours

These are the current figures from the official exhibition page and its booking system:

• Adults (19–66): 2,650 ISK
• Teens (13–18): 1,350 ISK
• Seniors (67 and over): 1,350 ISK
• Children (12 and under): free
• Open daily, 1 April to 31 October: 09:00–17:00
• Open daily, 1 November to 31 March: 09:00–16:00
• Parking: free, with an ON Power charging station at the entrance
• Payment: Visa, Mastercard or cash

Groups of 10 or more can book a guided tour of about 20 to 25 minutes, and Carbfix group tours are available for visitors aged 16 and over. The exhibition closes on some public holidays, so check before driving out at Easter or Christmas.

How to get to Hellisheiði Power Plant

Drive east from Reykjavík on Route 1 towards Hveragerði and Selfoss. After about half an hour, the plant's steam comes into view, and the turning is signposted just off the highway. It is about 30 km west of Selfoss and 17 km before Hveragerði.

The road over Hellisheiði is the main link between Reykjavík and the south, and it is high and exposed. In winter storms, it can close for hours, so check before you set off; our guide to checking Iceland's road conditions explains how.

How long to spend at the Geothermal Exhibition

Allow 45 minutes to an hour. The audio tour takes most people 45 to 60 minutes, and the exhibition says visits range from 20 minutes for a quick look to an hour for those who want every detail. Add 15 minutes for coffee on the way out.

Accessibility

The exhibition is wheelchair accessible, with two lifts and an accessible toilet on the first floor. Only the two top-floor observation platforms have a small step and can't be reached by wheelchair, but similar views are available from inside on the same floor.

Things to do near Hellisheiði Power Plant

The Hengill area around the plant has about 130 km of marked hiking trails, and the ruins of Kolviðarhóll, an old rest stop for travellers crossing the pass, are close by. Stay on marked paths here: the plant's operating areas are closed, and hot springs and boreholes are dangerous.

Over the pass, Hveragerði sits at the foot of the hills, and above it lies the warm river at Reykjadalur, a 20-minute drive and a 3 km walk from the plant. The two together show the Hengill heat from both sides: harnessed in the morning, bathed in by the afternoon.

Kerið crater is about 40 minutes east if you are starting the Golden Circle from the south, and Selfoss, 30 km away, is the nearest town with a full range of shops and restaurants.

To see the other half of ON Power's operation, drive north to Nesjavellir, ON's other plant, near the shore of Þingvallavatn.

Photo: Mathieu Neville, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons