The Italians named it Devil's Valley because of the steam pouring straight out of the ground. Turns out the steam was the mild part. A few kilometres below it sits enough molten rock to fill Lake Gene
The Larderello region in Tuscany, Italy, known as 'Devil's Valley,' contains a massive geothermal energy source that has been utilized for power generation since 1911. Recent geological findings suggest the area holds significant potential for clean energy, despite its complex volcanic characteristics.
Why it matters
Understanding the geothermal potential of non-traditional volcanic sites could significantly advance Europe's transition to sustainable, baseload renewable energy.
Beneath Italy's steam vents lies a geothermal powerhouse so vast it could revolutionize how Europe generates clean energy—if engineers can safely tap into it.
The steam has been coming out of the ground for as long as anyone has lived in the region.
Farmers in central Tuscany noticed it centuries ago — thin plumes of white vapour rising directly from cracks in the earth, hissing quietly, smelling faintly of sulphur. The medieval Italians who named the area picked the obvious explanation. This was Valle del Diavolo. Devil’s Valley. The Earth was releasing something it was not supposed to be releasing.
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