{"id":14854,"date":"2022-07-04T05:00:59","date_gmt":"2022-07-04T03:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sciencefocus.com\/?p=122265"},"modified":"2022-07-04T05:30:10","modified_gmt":"2022-07-04T03:30:10","slug":"welcome-to-devils-valley-the-worlds-oldest-geothermal-power-plant","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcsciencefocus\/rss_feed\/welcome-to-devils-valley-the-worlds-oldest-geothermal-power-plant\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to Devil\u2019s Valley: The world\u2019s oldest geothermal power plant"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By James Cutmore\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 04 July 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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When you think of Tuscany, you probably think of rolling green hills, beautiful trees, and vineyards as far as the eye can see. But hidden in a place called \u2018Devil\u2019s Valley\u2019 there is a different side to Tuscany. A dangerous and volatile side that is a hotbed of geothermal activity.<\/p>\n

This valley is the home of the world\u2019s oldest geothermal<\/a> power station. Opened in 1913, the\u00a0Larderello plant\u00a0has been producing electricity ever since, harnessing the escaping natural gases that force themselves through cracks in the soil from the rocks below.<\/p>\n

Pipes drilled deep into the ground at the site capture the naturally-produced steam from the rocks below, driving turbines in the power plant, thus producing electricity.<\/p>\n

Devil\u2019s Valley<\/a>, situated in southern Tuscany between Pisa and Siena, is scarred by natural and artificial cracks from which hot steam and fluids emerge at temperatures that can reach between 130\u00b0C and 160\u00b0C.<\/p>\n

The cultivation of this renewable underground resource has made it possible to transform a geographically harsh area of \u200b\u200bItaly into one of the world\u2019s most famous renewable energy sites.\u00a0In fact, the Larderello power plant was the only commercial geothermal energy plant in the world until the opening of the Wairakei<\/a> power station in New Zealand in 1958.<\/p>\n

Now, there are over 25 geothermal power plants<\/a> across the world, with potentially more to be built in order to harness an abundant and sustainable resource.<\/p>\n

Devil\u2019s Valley, Monterotondo Marittimo<\/h2>\n
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A view of the Valle del Diavolo (Devil\u2019s Valley), near the medieval town of Monterotondo Marittimo, Tuscany, Italy. In the centre of the image, plumes of natural gas escape from the soil below.\u00a0<\/span>Photo by Luigi Avantaggiato<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Larderello power plant<\/h2>\n
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A general view of the Larderello power plant, the world\u2019s first geothermal power plant which opened in 1913. The cooling towers can be seen on the right of the image. Photo by Luigi Avantaggiato<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Biancane geosite<\/h2>\n
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Steam and fluids escape from the fractures of the rocks at the Biancane geosite, near Monterotondo Marittimo, Italy. The fluid escaping here has a temperature of about 110\u00b0C, and is composed of 95 per cent water vapour. The rest of the gases are a combination of carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulphide. Photo by Luigi Avantaggiato<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Maintaining the turbines<\/h2>\n
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Power plant worker Valerio performs the maintenance shift on one of the turbines of Monterotondo 1, part of the Larderello plant. The geothermal facility produces enough electricity to power 1 million homes in the surrounding areas.\u00a0<\/span>Photo by Luigi Avantaggiato<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Lake\u00a0Boracifero<\/h2>\n
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Steam rises from the geysers at San Federigo, near to Lago Boracifero, Tuscany, Italy.\u00a0<\/span>Photo by Luigi Avantaggiato<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Researching gases<\/h2>\n
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Researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) analyse the composition of the gas at the Biancane National Park. The park is a protected natural area full of geothermal activity. Photo by Luigi Avantaggiato<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

More images from Science Focus<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n