Hydroelectric
Combined cycle
Photovoltaic
Wind
Steam turbine
Alternator
Transformer
Pump
Capacitor
Cooling tower
Extraction wells
Re-injection well
Coal
A building shaped like a cuboid, with several short chimneys; or circular, with a broad and deep cement fireplace that can reach 100 meters in height. Inside it, the water drips down and meets with a strong current of air that goes from the bottom up, entering from the base and exiting from the chimney. During this journey part of the water evaporates extracting heat from the rest of it, which is collected in the cold water bath, whilst the warm and moist air comes out from the chimney.
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.