| Abstract |
In Italy, the geothermal resources are mainly used for the purposes of generating electricity. An overview on the development of the activities carried out in the five-year period 2005- 2009 is presented in this paper. All of the plants in operation are located in Tuscany, in the two “historical” areas of Larderello-Travale and Mount Amiata. In the year 2008, with the installed capacity of 810.5 MW (711 MW efficient capacity) the gross electricity generation reached 5.5 billion kWh and in 2009 two additional units were commissioned, increasing the capacity up to 842.5 MW In the Larderello-Travale area the positive results of the deep drilling and of the reinjection programs have made it possible, notwithstanding the long and intensive exploitation history, to increase the steam production. Four additional units were thus installed in the period 2005-2009 with a total capacity of 100 MW, of which 52 MW represent a net capacity increase, while 48 MW replaced old units, decommissioned because obsolete. In the same area, a new deep exploration program (3D seismic surveys and 11 exploratory wells of 3000-4000 m) begun in 2004 was completed in 2008 with positive results, but the time-consuming authorization procedures have delayed the development programs. In the Mount Amiata area, despite the huge potential of the deep reservoir, the pending acceptability problems from local communities have hindered further developments: no new wells have been drilled and no new power plant construction started. In order to overcome these acceptability problems, an agreement was signed between Enel and Tuscany Region, which includes additional specific studies on environmental aspects related to geothermal activities. In the period 2005–2008, twenty-three wells were drilled, totalling 54,500 meters, and 17 AMIS plants (the H2S and Hg abatement technology developed by Enel) were installed and are currently in operation. |