Italy, geothermal power

The world s first geothermal power station begins operation in Italy. 

Bacci, E., Gaggi, C., Lanzillotti, E., Ferrozzi, S. Valli, L. 2000. Geothermal power plants at Mt. Amiata (Tuscany-Italy) mercury and hydrogen sulphide deposition revealed by vegetation. Chemosphere, 40, 907-911. 

Bussotti, F., Cenni, E., Cozzi, A. Ferretti, M. 1997. The impact of geothermal power plants on forest vegetation. A case study at Travale (Tuscany, Central Italy). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 45, 181-194. 

Dry steam power plants The geothermal steam goes directly to a turbine, where it expands and produces power. The expanded steam is injected into the geothermal well. This was first done at Lardarello in Italy in 1904. The world s largest geothermal power is at The Geysers in northern California. 

FIG. E-44 Compressor set for Castelnuovo geothermal power plant (Italy). (Source Ansaldo.)... 

At a number of sites, the hot water produced by the well contains a high concentration of dissolved mineral salts (brine) that cause operational and corrosion problems with the equipment. Disposal of the brine can present a difficult environmental protection challenge. Despite these shortcomings, modest geothermal electric power plants are in operation in New Zealand, Italy and in CaUfomia. Iceland satisfies much of their domestic heat requirements with hot water from low temperature geothermal sources. ... 

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