The geothermal energy is generated by means of geological sources of energy and it is a renewable energy. With all the geothermal energy that our planet has got we could satisfy the planet’s energy needs for about years. The geothermal energy is generated by means of geological sources of energy and it is a renewable energy. With all the geothermal energy that our planet has got we could satisfy the planet’s energy needs for about years.

Geothermal energy in the world

The low enthalpy geothermal energy uses the underground as heat reservoir. In the buildings, the heat is transferred either to the surface or returned to the ground based on the needs and on the season. This action is possible thanks to heat pumps, so this type of energy uses the constant temperatures of the underground.

Another way of using geothermal energy consists in conveying the steam coming from underground water springs towards particular turbines destined for the production of geothermal energy. In order to fuel the production of steam, cold water is introduced into the underground ’ s depth and this technique is useful in keeping the steam ’ s flow constant.

This way, the turbines are made to work at full capacity and produce heat with stable continuity. The steam’s flow coming from underground produces such power as to move the turbine, so the mechanic energy of the turbine is transformed into electricity through an alternator’s system.

The first country that obtained electricity from geothermal energy is Italy. In fact, on July 4th, 1904, Prince Pino Ginori Conti started a motor powered by geothermal steam. In 1911 Conti had an energy plant built in Larderello, Tuscany. It was the only one until 1958 when another plant was built in New Zeland.

In the Mayacamas Mountains, located north of San Francisco there is the Geyser, the largest complex of geothermal power plants in the world.

Calpine, the largest geothermal power producer in the U.S., owns and operates 15 power plants at The Geysers, enough to power almost homes, or a city the size of San Francisco.

Island uses 99% of its energy needs by using renewable energy, especially geothermal energy. It is one of the leader countries that produces and uses geothermal energy: the hot water and steam that come out of the drilled holes are used to fuel electric turbines or to heat the house directly.

That which makes this country different from others that have a good geothermal potential such as the U.S.A., is the cultural approach: in Island the geothermal heat is used by the whole community, here the hot water is pumped in the city and its suburbs, while the Americans are used to manage the water as a private asset.

Returning to our territory, last year, in Follonica (Grosseto) they celebrated the opening of 20 zero- bill apartements, that is, energy independent. The secret of “zero-bill” is exactly that of “low entalpy” geothermal energy; that is natural heat from the underground that buildings can use for heating or cooling.

Finally, on the island of Ischia, close to Procida, geothermal energy is used, for many years already, for the healthy thermal spas. However, there are many projects to use geothermal energy in all the houses.