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Iceland’s Geothermal Revolution: Bjarni Pálsson to Lead Strategic Task Force Shaping the Nation’s Energy Future

Iceland Charts a Bold Geothermal Future: Bjarni Pálsson to Lead the Nation’s Strategic Task Force
By Robert Buluma | October 30, 2025
Iceland — the land where fire meets ice — is once again positioning itself at the forefront of geothermal innovation. In a decisive move, Iceland’s Minister for Environment, Energy, and Climate, Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson, has launched a new strategic initiative to redefine how the country harnesses its powerful geothermal resources — not just as an energy source, but as a national tool for growth, equality, and global leadership.
At the helm of this vision stands Bjarni Pálsson, the President of the International Geothermal Association (IGA) and Executive Director of Wind and Geothermal at Landsvirkjun, Iceland’s national power company. Pálsson will chair an expert task force charged with developing a forward-thinking roadmap for Iceland’s geothermal future — one that could once again set a global benchmark for sustainable energy.
A Task Force of Visionaries
The geothermal policy task force brings together some of Iceland’s most respected voices in science, engineering, and sustainability:
  • Auður Agla Óladóttir, Geologist at ÍSOR
  • Sigurður H. Markússon, Head of Deep Utilization at Orkuveita Reykjavíkur
  • Elena Dís Víðisdóttir, Project Manager at Orkubú Vestfjarða
  • Finnur Sveinsson, Sustainability Business Manager at HS Orka
  • María Erla Marelsdóttir, Ambassador at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ Development Cooperation Office
Their mission? To create policies that drive greater geothermal power and heat generation, accelerate technological innovation, and ensure that geothermal energy remains a pillar of Icelandic prosperity and equality — bridging the economic gap between urban and rural regions.
More Than Energy — A National Strategy
According to the Minister, Iceland’s new geothermal roadmap will look beyond energy production. It will focus on:
  • Strengthening geoscience research and education
  • Reinforcing Iceland’s leadership in global geothermal affairs
  • Building deeper international collaborations
  • Promoting the export of geothermal technology and expertise
The task force is expected to deliver its recommendations by June 1, 2026, laying the foundation for what could be Iceland’s most ambitious geothermal plan yet.
“We Must Think Big — Like the Generations Before Us”
Minister Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson summed up the urgency and ambition behind the initiative:
“Nowhere else in the world does geothermal energy play such a vital role as in Iceland. We’ve achieved remarkable success — but what’s been missing is a clear long-term strategy. If we stop thinking big, as our predecessors once did, we risk losing the advantage that defines us.”
He added that the government, led by Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir, views geothermal energy as both a social equalizer and a driver of economic growth. Through the Climate and Energy Fund, Iceland is intensifying geothermal exploration, cutting red tape, and modernizing legislation to make development faster and smarter.
Alphaxioms Insight
Iceland’s new geothermal policy marks a turning point — not only for the country’s energy landscape but for the global geothermal community. With its unmatched natural potential and a task force of world-class experts, Iceland is poised to lead a new chapter in geothermal excellence, innovation, and sustainable development.

At Alphaxioms, we see this as a defining moment — a reminder that the future of energy belongs to nations that dare to think strategically, act boldly, and invest deeply in the heat beneath their feet.


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