Low enthalpy geothermal source for sustainable energy production in small islands: a real case study

Abstract

The global demand for clean and sustainable energy sources has significantly increased in recent years, mainly because of concerns about climate change and the finite nature of traditional fossil fuel reserves. In this context, geothermal energy has gained significant attention as a reliable and eco-friendly alternative. In particular, low enthalpy geothermal resources have emerged as an attractive option due to their accessibility, widespread distribution, and potential for decentralization. Moreover, reliability and flexibility of this source allow for year-round utilization to meet diverse energy demands, resulting in reduced dependency on traditional energy sources and associated greenhouse gas emissions. For this reason, geothermal energy appears to be a promising solution in small islands, where energy production is often a challenge due to the absence of infrastructures that make them energy-dependent on the mainland. Therefore, in this work, low enthalpy geothermal source is considered as effective and sustainable solution for electrical energy production in small islands. As case study a low temperature source available in Ischia island, Southern Italy, is considered. The proposed solution is analysed from energy, economic and environmental point of view.