Deep-seated Geothermal Resource Assessment of the VIGOR Project Regions, Italy

Abstract

A performance assessment of deep-seated geothermal systems was carried out in collaboration with TNO (Netherlands Geological Survey) to evaluate at regional scale the geothermal energy potential of the VIGOR Project regions (Southern Italy). Three main components were considered in the analysis: the resource – estimating its magnitude and distribution, the technology – establishing requirements for extracting and utilizing energy from reservoir including the application to be developed and the economics – estimating costs per unit of power produced. The VigorThermoGIS code, based on the volumetric estimation method and Monte Carlo simulations, provided probabilistic estimates of the stored heat, theoretical technical potential and economic technical potential. The results for the Sicily Region are here presented.