GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

WHAT IS GEOTHERMAL ENERGY? Geothermal energy is the thermal energy produced and stored in the center of the Earth.

WHO ARE THE BIGGEST PRODUCERS OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY? - Italy - Mexico - Philippines - Japan - U.S.A. - Indonesia - New Zealand - Iceland

What about Italy? Geothermal energy can be considered the renawable energy that represents better Italy. From Italy, who remained until 1952 the only world producer of geothermal energy, the idea spread to many other countries. The first use of geothermal energy for electricity production took place on July 4th, 1904 in Larderello, Tuscany, Italy

WHAT ABOUT GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN VARESE? In Varese the biggest geothermal plant in the province is being carried out. It will heat a huge living quarter

WHAT IS ENTHALPY? Enthalpy is the heat present in the subsoil and it is used by geothermal science. The geothermal source is contained in a natural tanker under the form of steam or water, mainly rainwater, which warms up by circulating in the subsoil near a magmatic mass.

GEOTHERMAL SCIENCE: LOW-ENTHALPY Low-enthalpy is used for house-heating instead of boilers in winter and air conditioners in summer, while high-enthalpy is used to produce energy. Recently there has been a more and more frequent exploitation of low-enthalpy, which means the use of geothermal plants and consequently of heat exchangers.

ADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source The thermal energy of the ground is always available on-site and has a purchase price. Thermal energy is free and independent from the outside temperature. The construction of the plant needs a small space. It avoids the use of fossil fuels. A geothermal system incorporates a single plant. This function is normally delegated to two different devices: boilers and air conditioners.

DISADVANTAGES OF GEOTHERMAL ENERGY In some cases, an unpleasant odour (rotten eggs) together with the steam come from the geothermal power plants, also due to hydrogen sulfide. There is a limited number of designers, installers and maintenance specialists. In Italy the lack of specific normative and the elevate investment costs have slowed down the diffusion of this technology.

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN THE FUTURE Scientists have shown the possibility to extract geothermal energy from the heat of the rocks which don’t contain water, because impervious. These are rocks usually placed at different depths and they can be artificially broken to become porous, so that they can be considered like real geothermal tankers. It is estimated that the development of geothermal energy in Italy until 2030 will lead to the creation of new permanent jobs, new investments, researches and development.

We all hope in the awareness of everyone so that we and our children can live in a better environment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uv8bTAGr0tU