Iceland review - 2016, Page 47

ICELAND REVIEW 45
to minimize fuel use when traditional fuel is used. “We have
seen a decrease in emissions from the fishing fleet in Iceland
and we have seen fishmeal factories changing from using oil to
electricity. So we already have a positive development there,
but clean ship technology is not as advanced as that of cars ...
It would be very nice for Iceland, which has a relatively higher
proportion of emissions from that sector, to make some con-
tributions there,” Hugi comments, adding: “But we realize that
this will take time, this will not be done overnight.”
ALUMINUM AND AGRICULTURE
Other areas for improvement in Iceland, Hugi says, include
heavy industry—primarily the aluminum industry. Four sili-
con metal production factories are also under construction or
in the planning stages. “Heavy industry is the biggest source
of emissions in Iceland, with over 40 percent. That is a high
proportion of heavy industry in a small country.” However, he
argues that the industry is already subject to strict regulations
and the possibility of making further emission cuts is unlike-
ly in the near future. “We already have strong regulations,
including the EU emissions trading scheme. The emissions
per ton of aluminum in Iceland are almost as low as technically
possible now; they’re about as low as you can find. But we hope
that within a few years, or at least a few decades, there may be a
technological breakthrough which would eliminate emissions
from these processes,” he muses.
Other areas of focus include agriculture, the third largest
emitter, including reducing emissions from fertilizers and
livestock, as well as looking closer at land use plans. Hugi says
that past studies have seen little room for improvement in
agricultural emissions, but that it merits a closer look.
THE BIG SWITCH?
Iceland has received international media attention since ambi-
tions to electrify the country’s car fleet first started being taken
seriously back in 2009. Currently, 85 percent of the nation’s
primary energy use stems from renewable sources—no other
nation can boast such a ratio. By replacing the remaining oil
imports for the fishing fleet and transport sector with renewa-
ble energy, that ratio could reach 100 percent, making Iceland
the first country to reach that goal.
Today, there are around 700 electric cars out of the 187,400
passenger cars currently in use in the country—when the
entire fleet of cars, vans, buses and trucks—over 261,000—is
considered, Iceland has one of the highest numbers of road
motor vehicles per capita in the world. Fast charging stations
total just six in the capital area, one on Reykjanes, Southwest
Iceland, two in West Iceland, and one in South Iceland. Hugi,
however, believes there is reason to be hopeful. In December,
news website Vísir reported that per capita sales of electric
cars in Iceland are second only to Norway. Hugi says that the
government’s lowering fees and taxes on electric and other
climate-friendly vehicles has had an impact, and that the gov-
ernment is working on speedier implementation of related
infrastructure.
While the price of electric vehicles has dropped in recent
years, near record low oil prices mean the industry cannot as
easily use the argument of saving money on fuel as a reason to
switch. “It of course has an effect,” Hugi admits. “It is expect-
ed that ordinary people look at their budget when it comes
to cars—both buying and driving them makes up a large part
of expenses—but I’m sure some people think about the envi-
ronment when making choices. We pride ourselves on having
abundant, cheap and clean electricity; so even with low oil
prices if we are seeing electric cars which have a longer range,
are easier to operate and if we get some infrastructure, there
is every reason to expect that we will be seeing an increase in
[the number of] electric vehicles.”
POWER TO THE PEOPLE?
Because of Iceland’s already high use of renewable energy,
Hugi argues that compared to other countries it is difficult
for Icelanders to make significant contributions in terms of
reducing emissions on an individual level. “People reducing
their use of electricity and heating, using better insulation—it’s
better for the environment, it’s more thrifty, it’s positive, but it
doesn’t really affect our emissions.”
There are, Hugi notes, however, at least two things which the
average citizen can look into: transport and the reduction of
ENVIRONMENT