Hjörleifur - fyrirmynd framtíðarinnar

Hjörleifur joined Baseload Power Iceland at the end of his master’s studies in Engineering at University. Even then, he was focused on the systemic aspects of things. He specialized in building extensive models using Python code, and it’s still one of his favorite parts of the job.

 

“I do a lot of thermodynamic modeling, especially for preliminary evaluations of the power potential of certain resources and how much cold water we would need for those resources. I use both Excel models and Python code models, where I can enter data like temperatures and flow rates and run simulations.“ 

From technology to business

Apart from the more technical calculations, Hjörleifur also adds numbers based on the demand for heat and power in the local community surrounding a resource. This becomes an important basis for his colleagues, who work on evaluating the business case. Every piece of the puzzle is significant to see the bigger picture.

The models that Hjörleifur builds can also be used to make the company’s current operations more efficient.

 

“That’s also a lot of fun. And important! To make the economy of our company viable.“ 

Hjörleifur also brings a spark of innovation to the team with his curious approach to new ideas and willingness to do things differently. This innovative mindset is crucial to develop exemplary geothermal projects that maximize energy efficiency and value creation from the geothermal resource.

Technical problem-solving

The most challenging part of his job is dealing with technical problems that regularly occur.

 

“We’re a small team and sometimes you just have to figure things out on your own by thinking them through. I spend a lot of time analyzing data, looking at the equipment, being on-site, adjusting and tweaking things, to get the results we need.“

When met with different everyday challenges, Hjörleifur has his colleague Ívar Helgason to turn to for support and to bounce ideas off.