GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND UTILIZATION IN ITALY

Abstract

Italy was the first country in the World to test and develop energy production by means of geothermal fluids.
In 1904 the first test was carried out at Larderello and in 1913 the first 250 kW power plant, supplied by geothermal steam, started-up.
Installed capacity and electricity generation have then increased with time due to the gradual extension of the areas explored by new drilled wells. This allowed an increase of fluid production.
Up to 1958, when electricity production was already around 2 billions kWh per year, Italy was the sole country in the World that had developed this technology.
Towards the end of '70s, new research and development programs have been started; they were related to deep drilling and artificial reservoir recharge through water reinjection. The positive outcomes of these programs opened new scenarios and allowed a new increase of fluid production and installed capacity in the same areas on exploitation from many years.
As of January 2002, in the geothermal areas of Larderello, Travale/Radicondoli, Monte Amiata and Latera, 37 production units were installed with a total running capacity of 631 MW.
In the year 2000 the electricity production totalled 4.7 billions of kWh, that represent a 10% of the World geothermal production and 25% of the electricity produced in Tuscany. Further development programs are currently ongoing, that should lead to a yearly production of 6 billion kWh by 2006.
In addition to the electricity production, geothermal fluids are used also for heat supply, mainly for spas, space heating and greenhouses. The energy supplied is about 7,800 TJ/y and a further 10% increase is foreseen in the next five years.