Impact of a geothermal plant

Numerical modelling of groundwater heat transfer for a pilot geothermal plant in Vernole (province of Lecce)

  • Vernole (LE)
  • 2014
  • Puglia region
  • Estimate of the thermal impact generated by a closed loop geothermal system
  • The heat is transferred from the ground to the environment through borehole heat exchangers
  • There is no groundwater exchange, but there may still be thermal impact

PIEZOMETER CAMPAIGN

  • to represent the local lithologic and hydrogeological context
  • 3 aquifers intercepted

FLOW MODEL

  • 2.45 km2 involved
  • FEFLOW
  • 3900 nodes per layer
  • 23 layers
  • 10 years of system activity

RESULTS

Preliminary assessment of the long-term geothermal impact in the most cautious condition

eveals no significant changes to the natural hydrothermal equilibrium