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The plant
Chiusdino Geothermal Plant
The municipalities of Chiusdino, Pomarance and Castelnuovo Val di Cecina form Tuscany’s historical triangle when it comes to harnessing geothermal energy, a practice that dates back thousands of years. The Chiusdino Power Plant was built in 2011 and has a 20-MW turboalternator unit that can generate up to 150 million kWh of energy per year, saving around 31,000 metric tons of oil equivalent (toe). The turbine is powered by approximately 130 T/h of geothermal steam originating from four wells nearby. The plant is an example of excellence in terms of both environmental integration and technological innovation.
Technology
Geothermal
Status
In operation
Operational capacity
18.5 MW
Energy production
135 GWh
Average production achieved in the last three representative years.
CO2 emissions avoided
61,756 kton annually
Energy needs met
50,000 families in Tuscany
Timeline
Milestones
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Impact on local communities
The power plant and the entire program for drilling wells and steam-pipes are the result of a participatory process. It involved local institutions and communities to foster the development of the geothermal energy sector with modern techniques that can ensure people’s health and full respect of the environment.
It is a sustainable plant: it reuses materials, recycles waste, recovers and recirculates oils, among other things.
The district heating system for the town of Chiusdino was completed in 2019. It uses geothermal steam to heat homes, shops and craft workshops, without all the emissions of CO2 and fine particulate matter that are generated by boilers and stoves.
Alongside the power plant, we’ve also promoted an experimental project to cultivate spirulina algae in collaboration with Co.Svi.G (Italy’s Consortium for the Development of Geothermal Areas) and the University of Florence. The project uses geothermal heat and carbon-free CO2, opening up important prospects for the industrial development of this sector. Basil, tomatoes and flowers are also grown locally in geothermal greenhouses.