Analysis of Natural and Power Plant CO 2 Emissions in the Mount Amiata (Italy) Volcanic–Geothermal Area Reveals Sustainable Electricity Production at Zero Emissions

Alessandro Sbrana, Alessandro Lenzi, Marco Paci, Roberto Gambini, Michele Sbrana, Valentina Ciani and Paola Marianelli
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Alessandro Sbrana: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Pisa University, Via Santa Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Alessandro Lenzi: Enel Green Power S.p.a., Via Andrea Pisano 120, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Marco Paci: Enel Green Power S.p.a., Via Andrea Pisano 120, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Roberto Gambini: RE&E, Rethinking Energy and Environment, 00184 Rome, Italy
Michele Sbrana: Terra Energy S.r.l., Via Lenin 132, 56017 San Giuliano Terme, Italy
Valentina Ciani: Terra Energy S.r.l., Via Lenin 132, 56017 San Giuliano Terme, Italy
Paola Marianelli: Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Pisa University, Via Santa Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-22

Abstract: Geothermal energy is a key renewable energy for Italy, with an annual electric production of 6.18 TWh. The future of geothermal energy is concerned with clarity over the CO 2 emissions from power plants and geological contexts where CO 2 is produced naturally. The Mt. Amiata volcanic–geothermal area (AVGA) is a formidable natural laboratory for investigating the relative roles of natural degassing of CO 2 and CO 2 emissions from geothermal power plants (GPPs). This research is based on measuring the soil gas flux in the AVGA and comparing the diffuse volcanic soil gas emissions with the emissions from geothermal fields in operation. The natural flux of soil gas is high, independently from the occurrence of GPPs in the area, and the budget for natural diffuse gas flux is high with respect to power plant gas emissions. Furthermore, the CO 2 emitted from power plants seems to reduce the amount of natural emissions because of the gas flow operated by power plants. During the GPPs’ life cycle, CO 2 emissions in the atmosphere are reduced further because of the reinjection of gas-free aqueous fluids in geothermal reservoirs. Therefore, the currently operating GPPs in the AVGA produce energy at a zero-emission level.

Keywords: Amiata; CO 2 soil flux; CO 2 power plant emission; geothermics; sustainability (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
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