Comparative Progress Report 1985-89 and Projections on Future Development of Geothermal Energy in Italy

Abstract

The first part of the paper summarizes the geothermal achievements in Italy in the 5 year period Jan. '85-Dec. '89 for both electrical generation and direct uses. At the beginning of the period the situation was as follows: installed capacity 459 MW, with a production of 2840 GWh/yr (1.6% of the total electricity generated in Italy in 1984); direct applications for a total saving of 190,000 OET/year, of which 124,000 was accounted for by balneology only and the rest by all other direct uses. The situation as of Dec. '89 was as follows: installed capacity 54 MW, with production of 3150 GWh/year (1.5% of total electrical generation in Italy in 1989); direct uses for a total saving of about 200,000 OET/yr, of which some 127,000 for balneology and a bit more than 70,000 OET/yr referring aggregately to agribusiness, industry and other minor direct applications. The second part of the paper is mainly focused on geothermal power development to the year 1995. It deals with strategy, objectives, resources, investments and expected results. Installed capacity is planned to increase significantly in the next few years, rising to 885 MW by Dec. '9 with production reaching approximately 47000 GWh in that year. Direct uses, on the contrary, are expected to increase slowly in the period of 1990-95: overall growth is unlikely to exceed 215,000 OET in 1995, of which approximately 130,000 for balneology and some 85,000 for space heating, agribusiness and industry. The latter figure is less than half that foreseen some 10 year ago for geo-heat projects other than balneology.