Tracing Ancient Carbon Dioxide Emission in the Larderello Area by Means of Historical Boric Acid Production Data

Alessandro Lenzi, Marco Paci, Geoffrey Giudetti and Roberto Gambini
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Alessandro Lenzi: Enel Green Power S.p.a. (EGP) Operation & Maintenance, via Andrea Pisano 120, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Marco Paci: Enel Green Power S.p.a. (EGP) Operation & Maintenance, via Andrea Pisano 120, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Geoffrey Giudetti: Enel Green Power S.p.a. (EGP) Operation & Maintenance, via Andrea Pisano 120, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Roberto Gambini: RE&E, Rethinking Energy and Environment, 00184 Rome, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 14, 1-16

Abstract: The impact of natural CO 2 emissions in the development of geothermal areas is presently gaining more attention than ever before. In Italian geothermal fields, a reduction in the natural CO 2 emissions has been observed. This paper reviews and provides an analysis of the historical production data of boric acid from 1818 to 1867 used to calculate the natural emissions of CO 2 associated with boric acid production that pre-dates the use of geothermal resources for power production, which started in 1913. Boric acid was already being extracted from the natural geothermal fluids in geysers and natural ponds emitting steam and gases. After 1827 the ‘lagone coperto’ (covered lake) equipment optimized production, and the drilling of shallow wells (20–30 m) starting in 1836, which further increased the quantity of its extraction. The first geothermal reservoir was developed at the turn of the century and the Larderello geothermal field began to grow. The use of deep wells, keeping pace with the power production, led to the gradual disappearance of the natural ponds and the ‘lagoni’ (lakes) in the historical area, so the residual natural emission of CO 2 is presently restricted to diffuse soil emission. Comparisons of the ancient CO 2 emissions with those of the Geothermal Power Plant (GPP) in the Larderello area show that both amounts are in the same order of magnitude, suggesting a balance between the depletion of natural emissions and geothermal activity.

Keywords: sustainability; geothermal resources; CO 2 emission; soil emission; boric acid; lagone; lagone coperto; depletion; substitutive emission (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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