March 28, 2024
Global Renewable News

ENEL GREEN POWER
Tuscany: Record Year for Geothermal Tourism, more than 60,000 Visits in 2016

March 21, 2017

The achievement comes thanks to the collaboration of all the entities present in the area: Enel Green Power, Consortium for the Development of Geothermal Areas, the Region and geothermal Municipalities, Communities for Food and Renewable Energy, local tourism boards and associations. Eugenio Giani, president of the Regional Council of Tuscany: "geothermal energy is a great resource for the environment, culture and tourism".

One record after another: Tuscan geothermal, after recording the production record of almost 6 billion kWh from renewable sources produced in 2016, has done it again: the record for "geothermal tourism", now a real branch of tourism in Tuscany. The official data for 2016 confirm that visits to sites of Tuscan geothermal exceeded the threshold of 60,000, a number never before seen.

Enel Green Power's Tuscan geothermal can't be stopped, not only for the production of electric energy from a renewable source that provides for around 27% of the regional energy needs, but also for the great value is is assuming from a cultural and touristic point of view. The official 2015 data on geothermal tourism, in fact, reveal that 60,000 people came to visit the sites of Tuscan geothermal.

Getting the most attention from tourists, associations, schools and organised groups were the Museum of Geothermal Energy, the demonstration fumarole and the Larderello plants, which saw 26,282 visits. Great results also came from the Park of the Biancane, the geothermal trekking along the trail "Geothermal & Vapour" from Sasso Pisano to Monterotondo Marittimo, natural events, the Open Plants in summer in the traditional area of Larderello, Monterotondo M.mo and Monteverdi Marittimo, in the Siena areas of Radicondoli and Chiusdino and on the Amiata, the new tourist itinerary of more than 700 metres around the plants of Bagnore between Santa Fiora and Arcidosso, the Etruscan-Roman springs of Sasso Pisano in the  Municipality of Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, the centres and the activities of the Consortium for Development of Geothermal Areas (Co.Svi.G.) and the agricultural industry of the Communities of Food and Renewable Energy, which recorded over 34,000 visits. In total, in 2016 in Tuscany, geothermal tourism between the provinces of Pisa, Siena and Grosseto was around 60,500 annual visits.

An achievement made possible thanks to the collaboration between Enel Green Power, Co.Svi.G., the Region of Tuscany, municipal administrations, Communities for Food and Renewable Energy, the Museum "The Energy of the Territory" in Radicondoli, Visitors' centre of the Park of the Biancane in Monterotondo Marittimo, Pro Loco, Tourist Offices and Associations in the traditional geothermal areas and of the Amiata who have worked a great deal on the promotion and care for visitor itineraries, making geothermal places a point of reference for national and international tourism.

In Tuscany, Enel Green Power manages the oldest geothermal complex in the world and possesses the know-how for geothermal energy internationally. Of Enel Green Power's 34 geothermal-electric plants, 15 are in the province of Pisa, for a total of 16 production groups; 9 are in the province of Siena for 10 groups total; and finally, 10 more are located in the province of Grosseto for a total of 11 production groups. In 2016 we set the production record with 5.871 GWh which, besides providing energy from renewable sources, provides heat used by 10.000 residential users as well as 30 hectares of greenhouses and dairies, and power for the important agricultural and gastronomic industries of the area.

"Tuscan Geothermal", said the president of the Regional Council Tuscany Eugenio Giani, "is a great resource not only from an energy perspective, but also for environmental tourism, for culture and for the history of our area: the tourism statistics given by Enel Green Power confirm that the path we've chosen is the right one. During my recent institutional visits, on the Amiata and in the traditional geothermal area between Pomarance and Castelnuovo Val di Cecina, I was able to see first-hand how geothermal energy is a central part of the economies of those areas".

"This achievement", said Massimo Montemaggi, head of Geothermal for Enel Green Power, "gives us great satisfaction because it confirms that geothermal energy is an added value for all of Tuscany and a 360° treasure. Starting the year with a production record and also a record number of tourist visits is a sign that geothermal is a great resource for energy production from renewable sources, for employment and work, and for the economic, social and touristic fabric of the so-called warm-hearted Tuscan lands. We will continue in our commitment to the development of the Tuscan geothermal district in our region and around the world, teaching innovation and environmental sustainability, in collaboration with the Institutions and the companies in the territory to promote a culture of geothermal energy and renewables. In the spring and summer seasons of 2017, starting with the month of March, we expect many students, families, groups and Italian and foreign visitors to come, with events, discussions and entertainment in our plants".

For more information

Enel Green Power (EGP)
One Tech Dr
Andover Massachusetts
United States 01810
www.enelgreenpower.com/en-GB


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