In Chiusdino, Italy, Enel Green Power is collaborating in tests to cultivate the algae spirulina in geothermal environments: a key step to creating the “superfood” that could even be used by future astronauts.
Launched last year, the project involved the construction of the world’s first greenhouse for the cultivation of spirulina heated by the earth, with smart and sustainable reuse of the C02 waste produced by geothermal plants. At the 125-mq plant, spirulina is grown in open tanks and photobioreactors at a rate of 60 grams a day.
Heat for the greenhouse is provided by our Chiusdino geothermal power plant. The plant, in operation since 2011 with an installed capacity of 20 MW, produces about 150 million kWh a year, avoiding the emission of 100,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, and saving fossil fuels equal to 32,000 TOE (tonne of oil equivalent) annually.
