To u r i s m , C u lt u r e
and
Business
I s s u e 43 • 2019
The Icelandic geothermal model is changing China
Arctic Green Energy’s joint venture with China’s Sinopec has become the world’s largest and fastest growing geothermal district heating company which is revolutionising China at a time of global warming
by H allur H allsson, Icelandic Times
A Piece of History
In 1930 the people of Reykjavík – ‘Smokey Bay’ – began to use hot water coming from the ground to heat their houses. The tiny capital was given its name when the first settlers saw the steam rising from hot springs. Coal burning pollution had become a massive problem, so the locals were turning to the hot water to heat houses. Iceland was poor and isolated out at the furthest point in the North Atlantic. In the mid-thirties, Austurbæjarskóli, an elementary school in Reykjavík, became the first building to be heated with geothermal energy. In August 1941 during World War II, Winston Churchill visited Iceland after meeting President Roosevelt to sign the Atlantic Treaty. During his visit to Iceland, Churchill put up the V-sign for victory for the first time. At that point, the Nazis ruled Europe, bombing London and English cities, while Japan ruled Asia and occupied China.
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Churchill visiting geothermal pools in Iceland
Winston Churchill
www.icelandictimes.com
