Politecnico di Torino logo
An international University

Erasmus+ BIP in Geothermal energy: resource assessment, plants, and environmental impacts

The use of geothermal resources for electricity production is growing in many countries around the world and, due to the wide range of skills required it represents an interesting employment opportunity for graduates in various fields of geology, civil and environmental engineering, energy engineering etc. The BIP program consists in online and in person lectures, group work, and guided visits to the geothermal plants in Larderello, and it covers various aspects of energy production from geothermal resources.

 

Students participating to the BIP will achieve 3 ECTS.

DISCOVER THE LAST EDITION

Politecnico di Torino - DIATI, Italy (coordinator)
  • Prof. Christoforos Benetatos
  • Prof. Vera Rocca
  • Prof. Glenda Taddia
  • Prof. Alessandro Casasso
University of Athens, Greece
  • Prof. Filippos Vallianatos
University of Patras, Greece
  • Prof. Kimon Christanis
Universidade de Lisboa - Faculdade de Ciencias, Portugal
  • Prof. Maria do Rosário Carvalho
KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
Aalto University of Technology, Finland
 

Virtual component: from 04/05/2026 to 26/06/2026

In-presence component: from 13/07/2026 to 17/07/2026 (5 days)
The in-presence component will take place in Larderello (PI).

Find the travel instructions here.

The BIP is open to students currently following Master of Science degree courses in any of the following fields: 

  • Chemical Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 
  • Engineering Geology 
  • Environmental Engineering 
  • Geology 
  • Geo-resources/Geo-energy/Petroleum and Mining Engineering 
  • Energy Engineering 
Partner Universities students

Contact the International Mobility/Erasmus+ office of your university.
All selected students must be awarded the Erasmus+ status. Please verify it with your university.
 

Politecnico di Torino students

In order to apply it is necessary to fill in this form within 24/04/2026 12:00 PM. 

Teaching methods

Teaching and Learning activities are based upon: 

  • Remote teaching and learning
  • Use of dedicated commercial software
  • Team working for the application of the acquired knowledge on a realistic case study
  • Final Project presentation
  • Site visits 
Online teaching activities
  • Theoretical lectures and practical exercises from university personnel, technical lectures from industry experts
  • Team working utilizing dedicated software
In-presence teaching activities (5 days)

Team working utilizing dedicated software, technical lectures, group presentations
Lecture from ENEL Green Power experts
Guided visits:

  • Visit to Exergy company, the second leading player in geothermal binary plant installations worldwide (Milan area)
  • Visit at the Museum of geothermal energy (Larderello)
  •  Visit to the Central Plant of Enel Green Power (Larderello)
  • Visit the Geomuseum of the Biancane (Monterotondo Marittimo) and tour in the nearby area rich of geothermal
    manifestations on the surface
  • Visit to the geothermal area of Sasso Pisano and to the “Vapori di Birra” brewery that used geothermal energy for
    beer production
  • Visit to the Podere Paterno farm that uses geothermal energy in the cheese making process.

Participants of the BIP will acquire a broad understanding of the geothermal energy value chain, from exploration and resource assessment to plant design, operation, and environmental management. They will acquire knowledge in interpreting geological, geophysical, and engineering data for geothermal applications, understand reservoir behaviour and modelling concepts, and evaluate the technical and environmental feasibility of geothermal projects. One of the key aspects of the program is the integration and connection of theoretical knowledge with real industrial case studies. The students will learn how to work in multidisciplinary and international teams, and present solutions to energy challenges. Participants will gain both technical competencies and transversal skills relevant to careers in geothermal energy.

Aims of the course:

Provide a basic understanding of the use of geothermal resources for electricity production, focusing on the assessment of
geothermal potential (including basics of geology and applied geophysics, fundamentals of flow and heat transport moding), wells, energy production facilities (such as turbines, condensers, etc.) and their basic sizing, techno-economic evaluation, and environmental impacts.

Erasmus+ - Co-funded bu EU logo

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.