HS Orka

HS Orka is a privately owned Icelandic energy company that produces electricity and hot water mainly from geothermal sources, mainly on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It is the third largest electricity producer in Iceland, after Landsvirkjun and Orka Nátturinnar.^[1] HS Orka operates two geothermal power plants: Svartsengi and Reykjanes, as well as a small hydropower station, Brú.^[2] As of 2022, its total installed electrical capacity is 215 MW, and 190 MWth geothermal hot water power.^[3]

HS Orka

Combined logo of HS Veitur and HS Orka
Company type	Limited company
Industry	Energy
Predecessor	Hitaveita Suðurnesja
Founded	1 January 1974 (1974-01-01)
Founder	Local municipalities The state of Iceland
Headquarters	Svartsengi Power Station, Grindavík , Iceland
Number of locations	3
Area served	Reykjanes Peninsula
Products	Wholesale electricity Wholesale hot water
Number of employees	63
Website	www.hsorka.is

History

HS Orka traces its routs back to 1974, when the construction of the Svartsengi Power Station began. It was the world's first combined heat and power geothermal power station. It was established as Hitaveita Suðurnesja, and majority owned by local municipalities. In 1976, Svartsengi Power Station began providing geothermal hot water through a district heating network in Grindavík. In 1978, electricity production began at Svartsengi Power station. Geothermal district heating distribution was later expanded to the rest of towns on the Reykjanes Peninsula.^[1]

As a result of new laws, in 2008 Hitaveita Suðurnesja split off its distribution arm into HS Veitur. Hitaveita Suðurnesja was then renamed HS Orka and oversees energy production (operation of power plants and wholesale of energy).^[4] In 2009, Alterra Power began buying shares in HS Orka and by 2011 had majority ownership. In 2019, Alterra sold off its shares in HS Orka and is now majority owned by Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA).^[5] The distributor, HS Veitur, is still majority owned by the local municipality, Reykjanesbær.^[6]

In 2023, one of the power plants operated by HS Orka had to be shielded from being exposed to lava.^[7]