The GEOSYN project and its pilot case at the Formaggeria Toscana have been featured in a PresaDiretta report, the in-depth investigative program on RAI 3 (Italian TV broadcast), now available on RAI Play. The documentary explores the potential of Italian geothermal energy through the concrete example of how this renewable resource is transforming industrial production processes.
Devil’s Valley: An Underutilized Energy Treasure
The territory between the provinces of Pisa, Grosseto and Siena (Tuscany), hosts the most ancient and one of the world’s most important geothermal field: 34 powerplants with 10% of the global installed capacity, as well as district heating systems, swimming pools, green houses and other industrial uses of geothermal heat. The PresaDiretta report documents how Enel Green Power power plants, companies, and artisans use this energy for electricity and heating, generating significant economic savings for citizens and local authorities, and opportunities for the local development.
However, a paradox emerges: despite the 2010 law aimed at promoting new geothermal plants with the liberalization of this sector, no new facilities have been built or authorized in Italy for over 11 years. Bureaucratic obstacles and local protests continue to hinder the development of this clean and strategic energy source.
Devil’s Valley: An Underutilized Energy Treasure
The report highlights the case of the Tuscan cheese factory (Formaggeria Toscana), which already integrates geothermal energy into its cheese production processes. The company represents an excellent example of how the food industry can reduce dependence on fossil fuels by exploiting the territory’s sustainable natural resources.
But the innovation doesn’t stop there. Thanks to the GEOSYN project, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program, the cheese factory will soon be able to use the cold component of geothermal energy for cheese aging as well. This technology represents a qualitative leap in energy efficiency for the agri-food sector.
The GEOSYN project is developing a unique technological solution: a high-temperature heat pump coupled with a thermally-powered refrigeration system, both using water as the working fluid. This innovation makes it possible to exploit the same geothermal source to simultaneously provide:
- High-temperature heat (up to 200°C) for processes such as milk pasteurization
- Cold (down to 5°C) for dairy product preservation and aging
For the Tuscan cheese factory, this means being able to manage the entire production cycle with a single renewable energy source, drastically reducing operating costs and environmental impact.
A Replicable Model for European Industry
The GEOSYN project is not limited to the Tuscan case. The international consortium, composed of 10 partners from 5 European countries (Italy, Denmark, France, Norway, Ukraine), is evaluating the technology’s applicability across various industrial sectors, from cement to chemicals, from textiles to paper and beer production.
The goal is to demonstrate that geothermal energy can go beyond electricity production and become the backbone of industrial decarbonization, providing stable, economical, and zero-emission thermal energy.
A Replicable Model for European Industry
The PresaDiretta documentary offers an in-depth look at the world of Italian geothermal energy, from large power plants to small artisanal applications, highlighting both the opportunities and the regulatory and social challenges. The presence of the GEOSYN project in the report emphasizes how European research is working to unlock the full potential of this resource.
For those who want to better understand the potential of geothermal energy and see how GEOSYN is contributing to industrial innovation, the report is available on RAI Play (in Italian) at the following link (minute 7):