2,000 years of geothermal in Larderello, Italy
History
From the Etruscans to the 21st century, Tuscany has been a geothermal pioneer. Over the centuries, many geothermal breakthroughs have taken place in picturesque Tuscan towns, most notably in Larderello.
In the 1st century BC, the Romans put Larderello on the map for its thermal baths, but it was only in the 19th century that the town came to be known by this name. Honouring François Jacques de Larderel, who founded the first factory dealing with boric acid in 1818, Larderello was forever tied to geothermal progress. Later on, in 1904, Larderel’s company made history again when its General Manager, Piero Ginori Conti, turned on the first geothermal-powered light bulbs.
The world’s first geothermal power plant, Larderello 1, was operational in 1913, and by 1916 it already produced enough electricity to power both Larderello and its neighbour, Volterra. Another plant, Larderello 2, soon followed – but both were destroyed during World War II. After the reconstruction period, Larderello 3 power plant became operational and claimed the title of the world’s most powerful – reaching 127,650 kW of installed power.
Larderello in the 21st century
Nowadays, Larderello hosts a series of geothermal power plants – 34 to be precise -, including the “Valle Secolo” plant, the largest of its kind in Europe. Due to these impressive geothermal sites, managed by Enel Green Power, the nearby cities and towns enjoy clean electricity and excellent air quality all year round.
The whole of Tuscany benefits from these geothermal sites, getting not only heat and electricity, but also tourism. The geothermal power plants supply 34% of the region’s electricity needs, while bringing in more than 60 thousand visitors a year. Since 2017, you can even experience concerts and theatrical performances at the Larderello 3 power plant!
Technical Details:
In the past, the heart of Larderello plant was the so-called lagone, the direct source of hot water mixed with steam at temperatures of up to 150°C. Today, however, injection and extraction wells are drilled into the ground to depths of more than 4 km, where geothermal fluid is captured. The heat is directly exploited in the form of steam, powering turbines that generate electric energy.
In the decade between 2007 and 2017, the overall increase in installed capacity amounted to 10%.
The “Valle Secolo” Plant alone:
Has an operating capacity of 1,176 MW
Produces 854 million KWh/year
Avoids 391,588 tons of CO2 per year
Meets the energy needs of 316,000 households
