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Hydroelectric

Combined cycle

Photovoltaic

Wind


	Geothermal

	Steam turbine
	Alternator
	Transformer
	Pump
	Capacitor
	Cooling tower
	Extraction wells
	Re-injection well

Coal

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Its characteristics are similar to those of oil wells. Inside it is covered with steel pipes all the way down to the extraction area (geothermal reservoir) where there can either be no pipe coating, or there can be pipes with numerous holes to allow the extraction of geothermal fluids. The extraction wells are connected to steel pipings (steam pipelines) that allow to carry the steam to the geo-thermoelectric plant. The fluids contained in a geothermal reservoir can sometimes reach the surface spontaneously through the subsoil, resulting in natural geothermal manifestations such as geysers, fumaroles and hot springs.

Italy was the first country in the World to deploy geothermal energy, with the first generation plant constructed 1913 in Larderello. Since then the history of geothermal power has been a source of pride for the Italian energy industry and a feather in Enel’s cap.
Currently the installed geothermal capacity worldwide is 10,000 MW, and it is expected to double by 2016.
Italy, with about 700 MW, is one of the World's leading producers and by far the largest in Europe. Its geothermal generation is focused in Tuscany, which is therefore the Italian Region with the highest renewable production. Indeed, geothermal power covers one fourth of the Region’s energy needs and meets the electricity needs of approximately 2 million homes.
In the next few years this source is expected to undergo further development, also due to Enel’s increasing commitment towards developing and deploying innovative technologies and improving the integration of geothermal plants in their environment, landscape and social structure.
Concerning innovation, a significant development will come, at an international level, from the expanded construction of advanced binary cycle plants, allowing electricity to be generated also from geothermal power at medium temperature (80-180 °C), which up to now was used only for heating or hydrothermal purposes.