Iceland magma drilling project may revive giant UK power cable link

By Reuters April 12, 2017

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A Krafla geothermal power plant is seen in Reykjahlid, Iceland, September 19, 2015. Picture taken September 19, 2015. REUTERS/Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

A view of the main crater of the Krafla volcano near Reykjahlid, Iceland, September 19, 2015. Picture taken September 19, 2015. REUTERS/Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

A woman walks past the smaller crater of the Krafla volcano near Reykjahlid, Iceland, September 19, 2015. Picture taken September 19, 2015. REUTERS/Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

People look on as fumes come out of the ground near Reykjahlid, Iceland, September 19, 2015. Picture taken September 19, 2015. REUTERS/Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

A general view of the Krafla geothermal power plant in Reykjahlid, Iceland, September 19, 2015. Picture taken September 19, 2015. REUTERS/Lefteris Karagiannopoulos

Scientists will study the possibility of producing geothermal energy from magma for the first time, in a $100 million project in Iceland.

If successful, the project could produce up to 10 times more energy than from a conventional well—and help revive plans to build a subsea cable to send power from Iceland homes in the United Kingdom.

The project is being coordinated by Iceland‘s Geothermal Research Group (GEORG) and the British Geological Survey, with the participation of 38 institutes and companies from 11 countries including the United States, Canada and Russia.

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