Where it is
With reference to the “plate tectonics” theory (according to which the earth’s crust can be divided into approximately 20 micro-areas called “plates” which every year move between zero and 18 centimetres), the hottest geothermal areas of the globe are generally positioned along the breaking and collision margins of the plates.
The breaking of a plate causes long cracks on the earth’s crust, through which the magma reaches the surface (the Iceland Rift, The Red Sea/Rift Valley system, the Baikal lake).
The collision between two plates causes the compression and lifting of the margins: in the case of oceanic plates, island arches such as the Antilles and the Japanese archipelagos; in the case of an oceanic and a continental plate, continental ranges emerge such as the Andes. If both plates are continental, the lifting of the margins leads to the formation of mountain ranges such as the Alps or Himalayas.
Important geothermal areas are “hot spots” such as Hawaii, Galapagos, Canaries and the area included between Tuscany and northern Lazio in Italy.
The continental plates include large sedimentary basins with low-temperature geothermal resources such as those in France, Hungary and China.
From the geothermal viewpoint, Italy is the hottest area in Europe although the exploitation of its geothermal resources has been so far developed only in the central and northern regions.
Special reports
-
4 November 2009
Ecological house
At present, it is more and more difficult to assure the comfort standard...
13 May 2013
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
-
18 May 2011
Artificial photosynthesis
The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature...
18 January 2016
Ten years of oil demand
Eni has recently published the 14th edition of the 2015 World Oil and Gas Review...
-
2 April 2019
Italy’s status on renewable sources
Renewable sources in Italy The Energy Services Operator (GSE) periodically publishes data and statistics on the renewable sources used in…
17 January 2019
What Are Solar Cells? Everything You Wanted To Know
When you think of renewable energy, what comes to mind? Water? Wind? Indeed, these two examples have proven the most…
1 June 2018
Is lithium the new petroleum?
Today petroleum vies for the title of “contemporary gold” with several competitors, one of those is certainly lithium...
-
4 November 2009
Ecological house
At present, it is more and more difficult to assure the comfort standard...
-
13 May 2013
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
18 May 2011
Artificial photosynthesis
The history of science and technology is packed with discoveries and inventions inspired by nature...
-
18 January 2016
Ten years of oil demand
Eni has recently published the 14th edition of the 2015 World Oil and Gas Review...
-
4 November 2009
Ecological house
At present, it is more and more difficult to assure the comfort standard...
-
13 May 2013
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
From the Multimedia section
Facts
-
An artificial geyser
Electric and thermal power produced from geothermal energy depend on the existence of underground infiltrations...
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
Porto Marghera Hydrogen Park
In Porto Marghera (Venice), the Hydrogen Park was created. It is the biggest centre in the world for hydrogen production...
-
Hydrogen from the sugar cane
The Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (CIRPS) carried out a study in Peru...
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
The “wave-swallowing” dragon
Wave Dragon, that swallows waves and generates electricity is a plant...
-
Bio-climatic architecture
Solar energy is playing a vital role with reference to bioclimatic architecture...
The photovoltaic train
In Italy the PVTRAIN project by Trenitalia (co-financed by the European Union) plans...
The plant of Almeria
In the Tabernas desert, 30 km north-east of the Andalusia town of Almeria (Spain)...
-
16 May 2011
An artificial geyser
Electric and thermal power produced from geothermal energy depend on the existence of underground infiltrations...
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
-
Porto Marghera Hydrogen Park
In Porto Marghera (Venice), the Hydrogen Park was created. It is the biggest centre in the world for hydrogen production...
Hydrogen from the sugar cane
The Centro di Ricerca Interuniversitario per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (CIRPS) carried out a study in Peru...
-
14 June 2011
Some curiosities about methane hydrates
The melting of the ice cells, not only brings about the release of methane gas, but it also produces another…
16 May 2011
The “wave-swallowing” dragon
Wave Dragon, that swallows waves and generates electricity is a plant...
-
An artificial geyser
Electric and thermal power produced from geothermal energy depend on the existence of underground infiltrations...
-
A hydrogen house
In Settimo, a municipality close to Turin, the first Unité d’Abitation has been created...
-
Porto Marghera Hydrogen Park
In Porto Marghera (Venice), the Hydrogen Park was created. It is the biggest centre in the world for hydrogen production...