Modelling of hydrogen sulfide dispersion from the geothermal power plants of Tuscany (Italy)

Somma, Renato; Granieri, Domenico; Troise, Claudia; Terranova, C.; Natale, Giuseppe De; Pedone, Maria

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.084

Cited by 30 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…This, in turn, has implications for the sustainability of production. In addition, mitigation of some of the environmental consequences of geothermal power production in Iceland, especially carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide emissions, entails additional mitigation costs for resource owners, as has also been evident in other locations, e.g., Tuscany, Italy [58]. Innovative projects currently being tested at the Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland include the reinjection and petrification of effluent carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide emissions into basaltic bedrock [59].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enjoying the Heat? Co-Creation of Stakeholder Benefits and Sustainable Energy Development within Projects in the Geothermal Sector

2022

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Analysis of the sustainability implications of the geothermal industry has tended to take a high-level or systemic overview of national performance rather than deeper, stakeholder-focused investigations. This study seeks to begin to fill this gap in the literature, investigating the following research question: how do projects in the Icelandic geothermal energy sector create co-benefits with stakeholders and reflect the integration of sustainable energy development (SED)? The focus of the analysis is identifying the stakeholders, what the sustainability benefits co-created with stakeholders are, and when in the projects’ life-cycle do these occur. Based on eleven semi-structured interviews with project managers in Iceland’s geothermal industry, the study identifies an array of stakeholders in the sector, including national and municipal governments, public sector institutions, businesses, the public, employees, and landowners. The sustainability co-benefits of Iceland’s geothermal power projects are broad and cut across all six aspects of SED and multiple phases of the project life-cycle. Although the sustainability benefits are apparent, trade-offs are reported between pursuing an economically efficient energy system and nature conservation. This relates to unsustainable utilization of the resources and the environmental externalities of power production and consumption. Efforts to mitigate these effects are ongoing, and further pursuit of SED is likely in Iceland given its recognition within the nation’s new energy policy and to meet ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in the government’s climate action plan. These are prominent issues in other nations seeking to decarbonize energy systems through increased utilization of geothermal resources.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enjoying the Heat? Co-Creation of Stakeholder Benefits and Sustainable Energy Development within Projects in the Geothermal Sector

2022

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“…Borgia et al [4,12] presented a volcanic spreading model for the volcano-tectonic evolution of Amiata (Figure 1), expanding on the idea originally suggested by Ferrari et al [10] and Garzonio [13], and that relates the deep-seated gravity deformation of the volcanic edifice with the formation of the geothermal fields. More recently, Principe and Vezzoli [14], prefer a three-phases volcano-tectoniccollapse model for the origin of the numerous faults that cut the volcanic edifice of [6]); the cooling towers are composed of three cells exhausting air with vapour, gases, droplets of water and fine particles to the atmosphere. See text for further explanation.…”

Section: Geologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given the approximations made and the fact that we are calculating a potential maximum fine-particle concentration in the emissions, to find a dilution factor of about a thousand, from the emission towers to the place where measurements were taken (1-2 km uphill of the power plants), appears to be consistent with atmospheric modelling of the power plant emissions (cf. [6]). In this respect, we observe that the power plants are located all around the village of Piancastagnaio from NE to E to SW and to S at a distance smaller than 2 km.…”

Section: Tablementioning

confidence: 99%

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The Geothermal Power Plants of Amiata Volcano, Italy: Impacts on Freshwater Aquifers, Seismicity and Air

Borgia¹,

Mazzoldi²,

Micheli³

et al. 2022

Progress in Volcanology

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Production of geothermal energy for electricity at Amiata Volcano uses flash-type power plants with cooling towers that evaporate much of the geothermal fluid to the atmosphere to condense the geothermal vapour extracted. Because the flash occurs also within the geothermal reservoir, it causes a significant depressurization within it that, in turns, results in a drop of the water table inside the volcano between 200 and 300 m. The flow rates of natural springs around the volcano have also substantially decreased or ceased since the start of geothermal energy exploitation. Continuous recording of aquifer conditions shows substantial increases in salinity (>20%) and temperature (>2°C) as the water table falls below about 755–750 m asl. In addition to hydrologic impacts, there are also a large numbers of induced earthquakes, among which the ML 3.9, April 1, 2000 earthquake that generated significant damage in the old villages and rural houses. Relevant impacts on air quality occur when emissions are considered on a per-MW basis. For example, CO2+CH4 emissions at Amiata are comparable to those of gas-fired power plants (1), while the acid-rain potential is about twice that of coal-fired power plants. Also, a significant emission of primary and secondary fine particles is associated with the cooling towers. These particles contain heavy metals and are enriched in sodium, vanadium, zinc, phosphorous, sulphur, tantalium, caesium, thallium, thorium, uranium, and arsenic relative to comparable aerosols collected in Florence and Arezzo (2). Measurements have shown that mercury emitted at Amiata comprises 42% of the mercury emitted from all Italian industries, while an additional comparable amount is emitted from the other geothermal power plants of Tuscany (3). We believe that the use of air coolers in place of the evaporative cooling towers, as suggested in 2010 by the local government of Tuscany (4), could have and can now drastically reduced the environmental impact on freshwater and air. On the opposite side of the coin, air-coolers would increase the amount of reinjection, increasing the risk of induced seismicity. We conclude that the use of deep borehole heat exchangers could perhaps be the only viable solution to the current geothermal energy environmental impacts.

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“…Regarding the Mataloko GPP, a direct measurement strategy is needed to determine the impact of power plants on the distribution of SO2 and CH+4 levels. Several direct measurement methods have been carried out, such as the gas dispersion method [23], SIMAK Pro 2012, and CML 2002 software [18], transect method, and statistical analysis [24], and land-use regression, LUR [25]. Prediction modeling of CO2 dispersion with analog and digital measurements by observing CO2 gas concentrations [26], GIS method with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) approach, and the use of GIS to explore changes in land cover dynamics [27,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling of SO2 and CH4 Emission Distribution in the Area Mataloko Geothermal Power Plant, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Abdullah¹,

Sumarno²,

Leksono³

et al. 2021

IJDNE

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The Mataloko geothermal system in Ngada-Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, is located in three active volcanic mountains (Inerie, Ebulobo, and Inielika). The contribution of high levels of CH4 and exhaust emissions of SO2 due to its utilization as a geothermal power plant (GPP) impacts the environment. This study aims to analyze and spatially model the distribution and impact of SO2 and CH4 gas levels in the Mataloko GPP area. The quantitative descriptive method was used through direct measurement at gas wells and laboratory testing. The results showed a tendency to increase SO2 levels in the MT-4 gas-well with levels of 8.00 ppm exceeding the quality standard, which could disturb the environment in the Mataloko-GPP area. Impact of high SO2 will experience dry sediment because it is not combustible in the air, then it will drop slowly to be absorbed by soil and plants. Droplets of acid gas blown by the wind and left on trees and buildings are even inhaled into the breath. In addition, the advantages of model with surfer 12 software can help identify the distribution of SO2 and SO4 emissions in the generating area.

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Modelling of hydrogen sulfide dispersion from the geothermal power plants of Tuscany (Italy)

Cited by 30 publications

References 23 publications

Enjoying the Heat? Co-Creation of Stakeholder Benefits and Sustainable Energy Development within Projects in the Geothermal Sector

Enjoying the Heat? Co-Creation of Stakeholder Benefits and Sustainable Energy Development within Projects in the Geothermal Sector

The Geothermal Power Plants of Amiata Volcano, Italy: Impacts on Freshwater Aquifers, Seismicity and Air

Modeling of SO2 and CH4 Emission Distribution in the Area Mataloko Geothermal Power Plant, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

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