Larderello facts for kids
Larderello is a small town, called a frazione, located in the area of Pomarance, in Tuscany, central Italy. Larderello is very famous for its geothermal power. This means it uses heat from deep inside the Earth to create electricity.
History of Geothermal Power
This region has been known for a long time for its volcanic nature. It has many very hot springs. The Romans even used these hot, sulphur-rich springs for bathing.
In 1827, a Frenchman named François de Larderel made an important discovery. He found a way to get boric acid from the volcanic mud. He used steam from the hot springs to separate the acid. The town of Larderello was later named in his honor.
First Geothermal Experiments
Larderello became a special place for producing energy from the Earth's heat. In 1904, Prince Piero Ginori Conti performed a groundbreaking experiment. On July 4, 1904, he tested the very first geothermal power generator. This happened at the Larderello dry steam field in Italy. It was a small generator, but it was powerful enough to light four light bulbs!
Later, in 1911, the world's first geothermal power plant was built here. It was built in an area known as the Valle del Diavolo, which means "Devil's Valley." This name came from the boiling water found in the area.
Larderello's Geothermal Impact
Today, Larderello is a world leader in geothermal energy. It produces about 10% of all the geothermal electricity used around the globe. This amounts to a huge 4,800 GWh of electricity every year. It shows how important using the Earth's natural heat can be for power!
Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: Larderello
