Geothermal: breaking records at Bagnore

Constructed in 1998 with a capacity of 20 MW, the Bagnore 3 geothermal plant (Mt. Amiata, Tuscany) generates enough power to meet the needs of 50,000 local households and provides district heating for the homes and businesses of the Bagnore and Santa Fiora areas.
The steam used comes from wells that are up to 4,000 meters deep. These record numbers were made possible by the technological leadership of Enel Green Power, which is now the only geothermal operator worldwide capable of exploiting resources at such a depth while maintaining excellence in operating performance.

Bagnore 3 also holds the record for the most environmentally friendly geothermal plant, in that it was the first plant to be equipped (in 2002) with the innovative AMIS (Mercury and Hydrogen Sulfide Abatement) emission reduction system. This technology was developed and patented by Enel and is virtually eliminates the natural pollutants in the geothermal steam that powers the plants. AMIS also eliminates the characteristic unpleasant smell of the hydrogen sulfide emissions typical of the areas where geothermal heat is found, thereby improving air quality and promoting integration of the plants with the surrounding territory.