GEOTHERMAL ENERGY IN SICILY? by Frank Cutjob

Submitted by Suddovest on Fri, 19/03/2010 - 00:01
VERSIONE IN ITALIANO

Energy is at the centre of this story.
We know how important all sources of energy are in this period.
Whether it be oil or gas, carbon, sun or hydrogen, all of these seem to be fundamental for our societies to continue existing. We've forgotten the times in which simply a fire and a grotto were enough for men to live. We need energy in order for our houses, offices, and means of transport to function.
Where are we going to find the suitable amounts of energy to fit our ever increasing needs?
Nature has provided us with many different sources.
Many say that oil, also known as 'black-gold', is going to eventually run out. Many countries have become rich as a direct result of their oilfields. Many wars have begun because of this reason:  a country (almost always a super-power) wants to gain control of  another country’s raw materials by occupying it through whatever means.
The main focus of research conducted by scientists has changed and tuned in on new sources of energy:  sun, wind, hydrogen, nuclear, and thermal.
Two years ago, I was surprised when I conducted an interview with Mr. Franco Barberi, a scientist.  He told me how little we are taking advantage of this source of natural energy: geothermal energy. While talking with him, everything became immediately clear to me through a very simple example he gave me. He said, “in both summer and winter we need our houses to maintain a temperature of around 20 degrees, which can be obtained through the use of the stream of hot water which lies under Rome.  By simply running pipes containing this water into our buildings, essentially receiving fresher water in the summer and warmer water in winter, thus removing the necessity of electrical or methane-powered heaters and conditioners.”
We have to change a lot in our energy spending and start a new greener era in order to maintain our life-style, and above all, preserve human life on Earth.
In the following days I began to look and search for information on the web, specifically focusing on something related to the geothermal exploitation in Sicily (my homeland). I thought, considering that Sicily has Europe’s largest active volcano, Mount Etna, perhaps local administrators, the regional governor in particular (who, if I remember well, at that time, should have been drafting the future regional energy program for 2009/2013) could have taken advantage of this solution to at least serve the main towns near the volcano such as Catania, Taormina, Messina and Syracusa.  Once the PEARS (Regional Plan for Energy for Sicily) had been published (March 27th, 2009), I was able to read it, and I found very little in it concerning geothermal energy. This did not surprise me, since I knew that Sicily prefers to spend most of its funds towards the completion of projects started some decades before (freeways, dams, dumps), or mega-contracts like the bridge over the strait of  Messina. Furthermore, this plan, which was immediately criticized by the regional leaders of Lega Ambiente, the main environmentalist association in Italy, whom I think are also lacking the necessary lobbying for this kind of energy, instead prefer to push for solar power. Regional experts in Sicily had put aside most possibilities regarding geothermal energy.
Contrarily, the report bluntly advises the administrators against this source of energy.
Quote from PEARS: ''Azioni proposte per le fonti rinnovabili e le fonti assimilate alle fonti rinnovabili – Geotermia e miniidraulica. Acque: possibili effetti negativi significativi in termini di quantità della risorsa idrica necessaria agli impianti; problematiche legate allo smaltimento acque corrosive o incrostanti; rischio di contaminazione tra livelli diversi di falde freatiche a causa delle perforazioni del sottosuolo; raffreddamento eccessivo per l’estrazione.’’
Furthermore, I recently spoke with a colleague of mine who comes from Catania, and he told me that to his knowledge, no actions concerning geothermal energy have ever been taken into consideration in that area of Sicily, except for a man in the town of Paternò who’s brother is a volcanologist.  This man received a concession from the Region to use the gasses of local fumarole to obtain carbon dioxide and to make carbonated beverages.
Perhaps I am wrong, because I’m quite ignorant with regards to this branch, but I am still wondering if Sicily could ever be able to get more from his own natural resources in the future and thus contributing to the nation’s need of energy, through more research, studies and tests.
 

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