Tímarit Verkfræðingafélags Íslands - 01.02.1984, Blaðsíða 15

ty of Iceland in engineering and most
science subjects, but graduates are en-
couraged to go abroad for M. Sc. or Ph.
D. degrees. This policy is maintained
mainly to avoid the danger of too much
inbreeding within the small community
of science and engineering in the coun-
try.
Without going into details about the
history of science and technology in
Iceland a simple way to see the develop-
ment of technological knowhow in the
country is to look at the number of
qualified engineers in the country. The
first Icelandic engineer graduated from
the technical University of Copenhagen
in 1891. In 1912 the Icelandic Associat-
ion of Chartered Engineers was found-
ed by 13 members. The membership
reached 19 in 1920 and aimost doubled
its number each decade after that to
date. It was 41 in 1930, 72 in 1940, 134
in 1950, 284 in 1960, 427 in 1970, 746 in
1980 and 890 in 1982. Similar growth
curves although smaller numbers can be
seen for the various scientific disciplines.
TOTAL SUM OF
GRAOUATES IN TOTAL
SCIENCE ANO POPULATION
ENGINEERING IN 1000
Figure 1. Histogram showing the total
number of Icelandic graduates in science and
engineering compared with population
growth. The highest column (shaded) refers
to 1982.
Figure 1 shows histograms for the total
number of graduates in science and
engineering in Iceland compared to
population growth. ln the beginning the
engineers were principally engaged in
public service, but the growth of the in-
dependent consulting firms can be seen
in that their staff members were about
15 in 1950 but 350—400 in 1980. Scien-
tists have as yet mainly been employed
by the state organizations.
The long tradition and relatively large
number of skilled and semi-skilled
handworkers and mechanics is probably
equally important as the academic fac-
tor in the successful development of
Iceland towards being technically self-
sufficient in the planning, design and
construction of major energy projects.
The general population has been literate
for centuries and the general level of
education is high. A relatively large pro-
portion of the adult population
understands one or more foreign
languages. Skilled and semi-skilled
workers have traditionally obtained
their training locally in technical col-
leges and on the job.
HYDROPOWER DEVELOPMENT
The first hydropower station in
Iceland was commissioned in 1904.
Hydropower plants presently in public
use in the country are listed in Table 1.
The table shows when the plants were
commissioned, the installed capacity,
and the average annual electricity pro-
duction. Several large hydropower pro-
Table 1.
Hydropower plants in Iceland
Powerplant Commissioned Capacity Mean annual
production
No. Name Year MW GWh/year
1 Ellidaár 1921 8) 3,2 2
2 Ljósafoss 1937 8) 14,6 - 1)
3 Fossavatn 1937 0,6 - 2)
4 Laxá I 1939 8) 4,6 - 3)
5 Gardsá 1943 0,17 1
6 Skeiðsfoss 1945 8) 4,9 15
7 Nónhornsvatn 1946 0,6 4,5
8 Andakíll 1947 8) 7,9 30
9 Búdará 1948 5) 0,24 1
10 Fjardará 1949 6) 0,16 1
11 Gönguskardsá 1949 1,1 7,5
12 Laxá II 1953 8,0 - 3)
13 Laxárvatn 1953 7) 0,5 3,5
14 Thverá 1953 8) 1,7 3,5
15 írafoss 1953 8) 47,8 - 1)
16 Rjúkandi 1954 0,9 7
17 Grímsá 1958 2,8 15
18 Reidhjalli 1958 0,4 2,5
19 Mjólká 1958 8) 8,1 40
20 Steingrímsstöd 1959 26,4 520
21 Mýraá 1966 0,06 0,2
22 Búrfell 1969 240 12) 1420
23 Smyrlabjargaá 1969 1,3 10
24 Thórisvatn 1971 - - 4)
25 Laxá III 1973 7,9 155
26 Lagarfoss 1975 7,5 45
27 Blaevadalsá 1975 0,2 0,5
28 Saengurfoss 1976 0,7 0,5
29 Sigalda 1977 150 680 *)
30 Hrauneyjafoss 1981 210 850 *)
Total in operation 752 3815
Planned and under construction:
31 Sultartangi 1983 4) - 130 *)
32 Kvíslarveita 1986 9) - 600 *)
33 Blanda 10) 150 790 *)
34 Búrfell II 11) 140 220 *)
35 Villinganes 11) 36 190 *)
36 Fljótsdalur 11) 252 1325 *)
37 Sultartangi 11) 120 660 *)
Total 1450 7730
*) Estimated; 1) Included in No. 20; 2) Included in No. 7; 3) Included in No. 25; 4) Storage; 5) Originally
commissioned in 1930; 6) Originally commissioned in 1913; 7) Originally commissioned in 1933; 8) lncluding
later additions; 9) River diversion and increased storage in Lake Thórisvatn; 10) Under construction; 11)
Planned project; 12) 210 MW + guarantced 15% continuously availablc additional capacity.
TÍMARIT VFÍ 1984 — 7