**Title**: Energy in the North - Eli Gudleifsson
**Date**: May 28, 2025
**Participants**: Amanda Byrd, Eli Gudleifsson

00:00:00:00 - 00:00:09:23 [Eli Gudleifsson] This has been, extremely strong motive from the government to do everything, everything in their power to keep the Blue Lagoon open. 

00:00:09:23 This week on energy and the north, I speak with Erlingur Gudleifsson or Eli, an ACEP researcher and PhD student based in Reykjavik, Iceland. Eli works on innovation and energy transition knowledge sharing between Alaska and Iceland. When people think of Iceland, they often first think of volcanoes and hot springs, and I began the conversation by asking Eli about the importance of geothermal hot springs in Icelanders daily lives.

00:00:45:19 - 00:01:26:22 [Eli Gudleifsson] If you look way back in history, the old Sagas, they tell us that people went to the pools to actually to get better health for soul and body. So that is rooted using pools, either spas or public pools that are also really popular in Iceland, traces way, way back. So at least in the culture. Those are enormous investments. Constructing a geothermal, spa. So I think it had been pretty easy for Iceland to actually understand those benefits because of those strong cultural roots. But also, you know, the Blue Lagoon, that most famous geothermal spas, I think, in the world that has been enormously successful over the years, business wise, I think it's the most valuable company in the tourism sector in Iceland, because and we totally take that for granted. And I think the tourist sector in Iceland now provides one third of Iceland's foreign currency. So we see how important this is. And that has also been reflected on because you mention volcanic eruptions and so on. As some know, there have been, I think six or 7 or 8 eruptions at a relatively short time in Iceland, in the area where the this famous thermal spa is Blue Lagoon. And, you know, despite of keeping the nation safe and sound during those those events, you know, this has been, extremely strong motive from the government to do everything, everything in their power to keep the Blue Lagoon open. It's so very important for tourism in Iceland.

00:02:25:02 - 00:02:30:06 [Amanda Byrd] And one of the interesting things about the Blue Lagoon is that the water used in the pool doesn't come just naturally out of the ground initially. It's actually the byproduct of a geothermal power plant. 

00:02:20:06 - 00:02:35:06 [Eli Gudleifsson] Yeah, or a waste if you cannot see a geothermal power plant. Waste water. 

00:02:35:06 - 00:02:37:06 [Amanda Byrd] I didn't want to say waste water, 

00:02:37:06 - 00:03:01:06 [Eli Gudleifsson] but yeah, it was actually what it is. But then it suddenly became apparent that it was pretty helpful for people with synthesis as a synthesis, as they found out in 81, I think, 1981, that, you know, it actually helped the guy that but how come he thought of dipping into that lagoon? I really don't know. Maybe he did it in the dark night at first. 

00:03:01:06 00:03:14:06 [Amanda Byrd] You said that geothermal has changed the tourism market, and last time I was there, I went to the Sky lagoon, which is just one of the new spa baths that have been set up in the country.   

00:03:14:06 - 00:03:46:21[Eli Gudleifsson] Gradually I think there are about probably about 15, you know, high end geothermal spas in Iceland scattered all around the country. Now, just as we speak, plans of building two more, though we have 15 or there seems to be a still a market for building more. I personally like visiting them, but I sometimes think that the public swimming pools heart and soul. For many of the Icelanders, sometimes get forgotten and they are, you know, cost maybe 10% of what the cost to dip in the high end ones.

00:03:47:02 - 00:03:59:20 [Amanda Byrd] Eli Gudleifsson is a researcher based in Iceland for the Alaska Center for Energy and Power, and I'm Amanda Byrd, chief storyteller for ACEP. Find this story and more at uaf.edu/acep.