Sustainability analysis of geothermal resource for electricity generation: The example of Ischia Island (Southern Italy)

Abstract

We analyze the possible disturbance on temperature and pressure filed in the shallow geothermal reservoir of Ischia Island, due to the heat withdrawal for electric production related to small geothermal power plant size (1-5MWe). Such analysis has been performed by using numerical simulations based on a well known thermofluid-dynamical code (TOUGH2®). Obtained results show that such geothermal exploitation generates a perturbation of temperature and pressure field which, however, is confined in a small volume around the well. At shallow level (0-100m) the exploitation does not produce any appreciable disturbance, and can be made compatible with local spa industry, which is the main business of the island. Such results are crucial for the general assessment of geothermal resource sustainability.