Geothermal Energy and Erasmus+: bridging together Academia, Industry, and Innovation
Geothermal energy, which originated in Italy and is now internationally widespread, plays a strategic role in the energy transition. In this scenario, where our country has always been at the forefront, a multidisciplinary and international course on geothermal energy has been created within the framework of the Erasmus+ programme.
The Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP) “Geothermal energy: resource assessment, plants, and environmental impacts”, coordinated by Politecnico di Torino, has engaged students from seven European universities in the multi-disciplinary industrial field of geothermal energy. The BIP is the result of a fruitful collaboration and synergy between academia and leading international companies in the geothermal sector, with the support of equipment and service providers (Exergy International S.r.l., Steam S.r.l., Blue Spark Energy) and energy companies (Enel Green Power).
From June 9th to July 11th 2025, an intense cycle of online lectures provided the students with broad knowledge on energy production from geothermal resources, including aspects related to geology, hydrogeology, assessment of potential induced risks, electricity production plants, thermodynamics, turbines.
The in-person final week was held in the unique geothermal area of Larderello, in the province of Pisa, where geothermal power production was born and continues to this day. The technical visits were specifically focused on Enel Green Power plant ‘Valle Secolo’, the largest in Europe, the areas of surface manifestations of Lagoni del Sasso and Le Biancane.
The knowledge and skills gained during the lessons and the technical visits allowed the students to successfully complete a group project on the techno-economic feasibility assessment of a geothermal power plant, which was also made possible thanks to the expertise shared by the Steam S.r.l. technical staff.
“We witnessed the passion for geothermal energy that the BIP course sparked in our students. Italy holds the longest experience in this renewable energy sector, and we believe that our initiative contributed to its valorization. We gratefully acknowledge the funding of ERASMUS+ programme, the collaboration of the UNITE! network, and the invaluable contribution and support of world-leading companies”, stated professors Vera Rocca, Glenda Taddia, Alessandro Casasso and researcher Christoforos Benetatos of the Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering and members of the organizing committee.
The BIP program embodies Erasmus+’s vision: fostering transnational, interdisciplinary, and cross-sector collaboration by blending remote learning with on-site teamwork and field immersion, creating intensive knowledge exchange.
Italy’s leadership potential in geothermal technology rests on a foundation of expertise, industrial capacity, and academic excellence. The Erasmus+ BIP at Politecnico di Torino shows how strategic investment in education and public–private collaboration can lay the groundwork to train geothermal professionals equipped to drive the transition towards sustainable energy.