Geothermal energy and sustainable development: Tuscan excellence in the energy transition

The cradle of Italian civilization, the melting pot of modern culture in Europe and beyond. During an “Italian Journey” in 1786, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was impressed by the "beautiful and grandiose appearance of the country’s public works, roads and bridges," remarking how everything was at the same time "solid and neat" and how it combined “practicality, utility and elegance." And when it comes to works of public interest and public utility, Tuscany is the key player in the field of geothermal energy. If Italy is one of the leading producers of this renewable source in Europe – with an estimated potential of between 500 million and 10 billion tons of oil equivalent (or between 5,800 and 116,000 terawatt-hours of energy) – then it owes it to the boost offered by Tuscany's natural hot springs. There are two areas of geothermal development: a historical one, located around Larderello, where geothermal activity is part of the economic, productive and socio-cultural fabric of the area, and one around Amiata, where the first activities began in the late 1950s. Today Tuscany is clearly moving in the direction of sustainable development, hosting 34 of our geothermal power plants (a total of 37 generating units), which use underground energy by cutting down on fossil fuels, thereby helping to achieve energy self-sufficiency. A history spanning two centuries If it’s true that paths are built so that we can go on a journey, then the furrow of this successful adventure has deep roots. Geothermal energy is an all-Tuscan story which began more than two centuries ago. At dawn on May 8, 1818, François Jacques de Larderel, a French-born merchant, began work on the first plant that could harness geothermal waters for the production of boric acid. This happened near the village of Montecerboli, which is now in the municipality of Pomarance, in the province of Pisa. In that area today, in the small town of Larderello, you can find one of the world's most important geothermal centers. Its supremacy on a planetary scale wasn’t called into question until the 1980s, when the technology began to spread on a large scale. This led to it being overtaken, but only just, by the United States. After the first attempts made by Larderel, who was subsequently given the title of Count of Montecerboli by the Grand Duke of Tuscany Leopold II, geothermal energy began to be used to produce electricity in the early twentieth century. On July 4, 1904, Prince Piero Ginori Conti succeeded in using the Earth's heat to power a dynamo that could turn on five light bulbs. Nine years later, in 1913, on the other hand, the first geothermal power plant at Larderello went into operation, ennobling the so-called "Devil's Valley." This area, whose waters had been used for thermal purposes since Etruscan and ancient Roman times, was even mentioned by Dante in Song XIV of Le Rime (the Rhymes): "Versan le Vene le fumifere acque Per li vapor, che la terra ha nel ventre, Che d'abisso le tira suso in alto" (“The veins pour out the smoky waters For the vapors that the earth has in its belly, Which from the abyss pulls them upwards”). The driving force for renewable energy in Tuscany Grosseto, Pisa and Siena are the provinces in which electricity production mainly comes from geothermal resources. These are the numbers for Tuscany's geothermal district: 34 geothermal power plants 37 production groups 16 geothermal power plants in the province of Pisa 9 geothermal power plants in the province of Siena 9 geothermal power plants in the province of Grosseto 4 AGEs (Aree Geotermiche, Geothermal Areas) operating in 17 geothermal municipalities. The sustainability of the Earth's heat energy quickly translates from numbers into hard facts. With nearly 6 billion KWh produced in Tuscany through its 916 MW of installed capacity, geothermal energy meets more than 33% of the region's electricity needs and accounts for 70% of the renewable energy produced there. It can meet the heating needs of about 13,000 residential users in 9 geothermal municipalities, 26 hectares of greenhouses and companies in the artisanal, agribusiness and floriculture supply chain. It is clearly a renewable source that’s available at all times and is able to provide – when compared to non-programmable sources – a greater amount of energy for the same nominal installed power. The heat of sustainability The Tuscan complex offers a model for technological innovation and sustainability, of which geothermal energy is a key driver. At the end of 2021, the report by ASviS (Alleanza Italiana per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile, the Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development), entitled "Areas and the Sustainable Development Goals" endeavored to ascertain in which way and how soon certain areas of Italy would be able to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 UN Agenda. It also highlighted how in Tuscany the figures for geothermal energy are higher than the national average in terms of the share of electricity from renewable sources and for electricity consumption. It described Tuscany as being in line with SDG 7, "clean and affordable energy," i.e., ensuring that everyone has access to affordable, sustainable, reliable and modern energy systems. At present, the geothermal energy produced in Tuscany prevents the consumption of 1.1 Mega Tons of oil equivalent and the emission of 3 MT of CO₂eq into the atmosphere, with heat production of about 454 GWh, thereby avoiding the emission of a further 121,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent. Another significant element in geothermal sustainability is provided by AMIS (Mercury and Hydrogen Sulfide Abatement) systems, which we patented and installed in all power plants between 2000 and 2015, for a total investment of more than €100 million. AMIS can eliminate mercury and reduce the unpleasant odor of hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which is characteristic of thermal areas and geothermal manifestations, thereby considerably improving the quality of life. Energy that creates jobs Energy derived from geothermal power plants is not only an indispensable opportunity for Tuscany's sustainable growth and energy autonomy: it’s also a key strategic lever for employment. As shown by data collected by the GSE (Gestore dei Servizi Energetici, Energy Services Operator), geothermal is the type of renewable that provides the most induced employment. In Tuscany, the green jobs generated by the sector show a technological district employing about 700 Enel Green Power people. This is in addition to the induced employment at 80 companies in the geothermal municipalities of the three provinces involved (Grosseto, Pisa and Siena), with about 150 firms located throughout the region for a total of 1,500 employees in the geothermal areas and more than 4,000 in Tuscany. Geothermal energy and sustainable tourism In geothermal energy, "sustainability" means tourism, and Tuscany is no exception to this rule. Indeed, the geothermal industry accounts for about 60,000 visits each year at museum centers, plants and natural events in geothermal areas. It’s a massive presence favored by the development of itineraries in lesser-known parts of the region, among natural manifestations such as geysers, “putizze” and fumaroles that integrate with production plants and museums. These include the Geothermal Museum in Larderello, where visitors can relive the history of the use of the geothermal resource and witness the opening of a geothermal hole, and the Museum of the Biancane (MUBIA), which is the starting point for a route that goes up the mountain through areas featuring natural geothermal manifestations. With that in mind, in 2022 UNESCO approved the expansion of the Metalliferous Hills Geopark to include an additional 96 square kilometers, bringing the park's size to 1,087 square kilometers in 10 municipalities (Follonica, Gavorrano, Massa Marittima, Monterotondo Marittimo, Montieri, Roccastrada and Scarlino have been joined by Castelnuovo di Val di Cecina, Pomarance and Radicondoli). The aim is to develop a single entity under the banner of sustainability in the geothermal area in its entirety, as a result of the collaboration between EGP, the Metalliferous Hills Park and the municipalities. Mention should also be made of the trekking paths that we have committed to making usable for sustainable tourism - such as the 4.5-kilometer path that runs between the Fumarole Park (below the medieval village of Sasso Pisano) and the Biancane UNESCO Geopark - and all the sustainability projects related to the construction of the power plants. Examples include, in the Mount Amiata area, the tourist trail with the panoramic view that brings together – and enables visitors to see – the Bagnore 3 and Bagnore 4 power plants from the outside, or the geothermal water-heated swimming pool in the final stages of construction between Santa Fiora and Arcidosso. These geothermal resources also lend themselves to culinary experiences, through the Renewable Energy Food Community, founded by Co.Svi.G (Consorzio Sviluppo Aree Geotermiche, the Geothermal Areas Development Consortium), Slow Food Tuscany and the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity. It’s a model of sustainable zero-kilometer agriculture for the geothermal heat supply chain that has produced a "geothermal” selection of dishes featuring basil, cheese, cured meats and craft beer produced thanks to our geothermal heat. Equally significant for sustainable tourism are artistic initiatives such as the Geothermal Hills Festival. This is dedicated to contemporary theatre, but also music, circus and dance, and 2024 marks its twelfth edition. There are also sports events, such as the newly formed Geogravel Tuscany for cyclists. It’s inspired by the wild beauty of the Metalliferous Hills and, with four routes (from the "short" 46 kilometers to the so-called "ultra" 250 kilometers), it travels through the heart of the geothermal area and features lunar landscape, little-known roads and woods. A glimpse into the future As Enel Green Power, the only geothermal operator in Italy with 500 wells and 700 km of Grids, in Tuscany we manage the oldest and most innovative geothermal complex in the world. It has a notable economic knock-on effect by broadening the horizon of sustainable development for the entrepreneurial fabric of the geothermal areas. Our commitment to the sustainability of this valley as a principle for cultivating natural resources is unwavering, as shown by our recent collaboration with Nippon Gases Operations in Piancastagnaio. This partnership, which began in 2023, involves the construction of a new plant for the reuse, purification and liquefaction for food purposes of CO2 naturally present in the geothermal fluids of the Piancastagnaio power plants. The project aims to maximize the sustainable and circular use of the geothermal resource by generating shared value. Specifically, we will make geothermal fluid available at the power plant’s outlet. This will enable Nippon Gases Operations to reuse carbon dioxide of natural origin through an innovative process that also involves the purification and liquefaction of CO2. In this way, the amount of "green" CO2 reused will account for about 30% of the national demand for pure carbon dioxide. This project reaffirms our leadership in the sector in Italy and the extraordinary ability of Tuscan geothermal energy to combine environmental care and energy efficiency, elements that are helping to shape an international model of sustainability.

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Geothermal energy and sustainable development: Tuscan excellence in the energy transition

Geothermal energy and sustainable development: Tuscan excellence in the energy transition

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