Kentec are the power behind Iceland's geothermal energy.

Fire alarm control panels from Kentec have been chosen for a new Geothermal Power Plant, currently under construction south of Iceland’s Mount Hengill for Orkuveita Reykjavikur (Reykjavik Energy), and designed to meet the increasing demand for electricity and space heating in Reykjavik.

When complete next year, this latest phase of the plant will give access to geothermal fields up to 5 kilometres below the surface and generate 300 MWe of electricity, and 400 MWth of thermal energy via steam transmission for Reykjavik’s district heating system.

Such a vast project, with its attendant risks as a high-hazard environment, demands the highest standards of reliability and integrity in monitoring and control of the prevailing conditions of the plant. That’s why the specifiers, Iceland's Ark Security, selected Syncro two-loop open protocol fire alarm control panels from Kentec for interfacing with the plant's smoke detection system, based on Hochiki’s ESP - Enhanced System Protocol - analogue addressable devices.

Ark Security's Kjartan Scheving comments: 'Essentially, the specification of Kentec's Synchro panels was determined by the way we can so easily and rapidly configure a system with Kentec's intuitive Loop Explorer software. The simplicity of its graphical programming de-mystifies the process of configuring complex fire systems. What's more, the expandability and flexibility of Syncro control panels means networking is very straightforward. In the longer term, integration to much larger systems can be achieved easily, if the need arises, therefore providing a future proof solution for any installation.'

With its large graphical display and ergonomic button and indicator layout, the Syncro control panel can be very quickly customised by installers, commissioning engineers and end users alike.

For more information please contact Kentec on 01322 222121 or email robine@kentec.co.uk or visit www.kentec.co.uk