WHERE
The production of electricity from geothermal resources is distributed across all five continents. As of 2025, approximately 30 nations are using geothermal resources for this energy supply. In 2024, the installed capacity worldwide for geothermoelectric generation was nearly 17,000 MWe, with a gross production of approximately 95,000 GWh/a.
Top 10 countries worldwide by installed capacity (MW) in geothermal plants for electricity production (www.thinkgeoenergy.com)
Location of power plants where electricity is produced from geothermal resources (www.thinkgeoenergy.com)
Italy ranks eighth, while at the European level it is second behind Turkey, with an installed capacity of just over 900 MWe and a production of approximately 6,000 GWh/a. Currently in Italy, geothermoelectric energy is produced exclusively in Tuscany, in the areas of Larderello and Monte Amiata, but there are many other potentially interesting areas that could be used both for geothermoelectric production and for direct heat utilization.
Potential geothermal areas in Italy – (Modified from Italian Geothermal Union)
Regarding direct uses, the countries that most utilize geothermal sources are China, Turkey, Japan, Iceland and Hungary. In the rest of the world, the development of these technologies is proceeding, sometimes slowly and mainly due to competition from fossil fuels.
Installed capacity (MWth) in global direct uses of geothermal heat. (www.thinkgeoenergy.com)
The most widespread direct application is district heating, which has experienced significant growth since 2005. In Italy, 50% of district heating systems are concentrated in four regions: Tuscany, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. A relevant example is the city of Ferrara, where an extensive geothermal district heating network provides heat to urban buildings.
The Earth’s heat and in particular geothermal steam can also be used directly, for example in brewing processes. In Italy, and particularly in Tuscany, there are virtuous examples of such application and more. Here there are also companies that directly use geothermal resources in milk pasteurization and cheese production, such as Tuscan pecorino, and in floriculture, facilitating plant growth and ensuring optimal conditions throughout the year