The history of geothermal electric power plants on the Island of Ischia, Italy

Abstract

Many articles have been published on the pioneering activity carried out in Larderello for the exploitation of the geothermal resources present there.Little is known, however, of the equally pioneering activities carried out in Italy around 500 km south of Larderello for the exploitation of the warm waters found on the Ischia island in front of the Gulf of Naples. With this article we want to analyze the technological evolution that since the 1930s has made it possible to produce electricity from hot water. There are many factors that have made this pioneering development possible. The first one is linked to the geological conditions present on the island, the second one concerns the evolution of the drilling activity which has made available more and more hot water and then steam. The third is linked to the presence, at the engineering faculty of the "Federico II" University of Naples, of creative minds who have designed and made possible the realization of prototypes of binary fluid systems. Starting from a small size of 10 CV (1 CV = 0,98631 HP) working with pure fluids, reaching a size of 300 kW working with immiscible fluids mixtures. In this way they have anticipated the future development of this technology. The article analyzes all these factors to describe the birth, development and decline of this unique experience from which valid lessons can be drawn even in our day.