Mannvit Engineering

Mannvit Engineering was formed in Iceland in 2008 through the merger of Hönnun hf., VGK hf., and Rafhönnun hf. Although Mannvit itself was a new corporate combination, all three predecessor firms had been established in the 1960s. The merger therefore brought together several decades of Icelandic engineering experience under one organization. The name Mannvit derives from an old Nordic and Icelandic term associated with wisdom; the word appears in the Icelandic saga tradition and can be understood literally as referring to human intelligence or “man-wits.” The merged firm developed as a multidisciplinary consulting engineering company. Its scope included engineering design, consulting, project and construction management, procurement, operational support, and EPCM services. This breadth enabled Mannvit to work across the full life cycle of projects, from feasibility studies and planning to detailed design, construction oversight, commissioning, and operational assistance. Mannvit became particularly associated with Iceland’s renewable-energy economy. The firm participated in the development of many geothermal power facilities in Iceland, including Hellisheidi, Nesjavellir, Krafla, Bjarnarflag, Svartsengi, Theistareykir, and the Húsavík Kalina Cycle plant. Its work covered geothermal power generation as well as geothermal district heating. The company also pursued international geothermal opportunities and is described as having worked on developments in Hungary, Indonesia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Hydropower formed another important part of the company’s technical record. Mannvit participated in large Icelandic projects including Kárahnjúkar, Vatnsfell, and Búrfellsstöð, as well as smaller hydroelectric facilities in Iceland and Greenland. The Greenland-related examples included projects at Tasiilaq and Qorlortorsuaq, while Icelandic small-hydropower activities included Hverfisfljót, Múli, and Djúpadalur. The firm’s energy practice expanded beyond established geothermal and hydroelectric technologies. It offered expertise related to wind power and environmentally oriented processes such as hydrogen, biofuels, biogas, anaerobic digestion, waste management, carbon-dioxide sequestration, carbon dioxide-to-methanol conversion, and large-scale composting. It also possessed specialized engineering knowledge relevant to the primary aluminium industry, an important industrial sector in Iceland. Mannvit’s domestic practice extended into buildings, transportation, traffic, planning, utility networks, water and sewage systems, heating, data infrastructure, land surveying, hydrography, geology, acoustics, and other aspects of infrastructure development. Environmental consulting and environmental impact assessment were prominent activities. The firm worked on assessments for renewable-energy facilities, power-transmission systems, industrial developments, and emerging Power-to-X projects. In 2023, Mannvit was purchased by COWI A/S, an international consulting group. This transaction was the company’s major documented ownership transition. The available reference material does not specify the post-acquisition treatment of the Mannvit name, its legal entity, or its continuing operations, so the brand’s current status cannot be determined with confidence.

• 2023

  Acquisition by COWI A/S

  [1]Mannvit Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  International consulting group COWI A/S bought Mannvit, placing the Icelandic engineering business within COWI’s corporate group.

• 2008

  Mannvit is established through a merger

  [1]Mannvit Engineeringen.wikipedia.org

  Hönnun hf., VGK hf., and Rafhönnun hf. merged to create Mannvit Engineering. The three predecessor companies had each originated in the 1960s.

A technically specialized Icelandic engineering and consulting firm positioned around renewable energy, especially geothermal and hydropower, while also serving infrastructure, industrial, environmental, building, and utility-system projects.

• Energy engineering

  Geothermal power and district heating

  Mannvit’s geothermal practice covered resource and project development, engineering, consulting, and related infrastructure for geothermal electricity and district-heating systems. In Iceland, the firm participated in projects including Hellisheidi, Nesjavellir, Krafla, Bjarnarflag, Svartsengi, Theistareykir, and Húsavík. The company also reported international geothermal activity in Hungary, Indonesia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

• Energy engineering

  Hydroelectric power engineering

  The hydropower offering supported the planning and development of large and small hydroelectric facilities. Documented projects included Kárahnjúkar, Vatnsfell, and Búrfellsstöð in Iceland, along with smaller facilities in Iceland and Greenland such as Hverfisfljót, Múli, Djúpadalur, Tasiilaq, and Qorlortorsuaq.

• Environmental and energy consulting

  Renewable energy and low-carbon processes

  Mannvit worked on renewable and environmentally focused technologies beyond geothermal and hydropower. Its stated areas of expertise included wind power, hydrogen, biofuels, biogas, anaerobic digestion, waste management, carbon-dioxide sequestration, carbon dioxide-to-methanol processes, and large-scale composting.

• Infrastructure consulting

  Infrastructure and built-environment engineering

  The firm provided design and consulting services for buildings, transportation infrastructure, traffic systems, planning, heating, water, sewage, data systems, and other utilities. Related technical disciplines included hydrography, land surveying, geology, acoustics, and construction or project management.

• Environmental consulting

  Environmental impact assessment

  Mannvit was described as a leading Icelandic consultant for environmental impact assessment. Its assessments covered renewable-energy developments, transmission infrastructure, industrial projects, power projects, and emerging Power-to-X facilities.

• 2023

  Sale to COWI A/SM&A

  Background

  Mannvit had developed as a multidisciplinary Icelandic engineering firm with substantial renewable-energy, infrastructure, and environmental expertise.

  Action taken

  COWI A/S acquired Mannvit in 2023.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition transferred ownership to COWI. The available source does not clarify whether Mannvit continued as a distinct brand or was integrated into COWI.

  Source

1. 1Mannvit Engineeringen.wikipedia.org