Secret of the world's oldest geothermal power plant in 'Devil's Valley'

The world's first and oldest geothermal power plant is hidden in a quiet corner of Tuscany, Italy, known as the "Valley of the Devil".

View of the "Valley of the Devil", near the medieval town of Monterotondo Marittimo, Tuscany, Italy. This place deeply imprints natural and man-made cracks, releasing hot steam and liquids with temperatures ranging from 130⁰C - 160⁰C. In the center of the photo are natural gas streams escaping from the soil below

Referring to Tuscany, many people will think of green hills, beautiful trees and vineyards as far as the eye can see.

Few people know that Tuscany also has a geothermally active region, with hot steam emanating from the fissures of the ground, known as the "Valley of the Devil". It is also home to the world's oldest geothermal power station: the Larderello plant.

Opened in 1913, the Larderello plant has since produced electricity, harnessing natural gasses that naturally escape through cracks in the ground.

Pipes drilled deep into the ground in this area will draw naturally-generated steam from the rocks below, driving turbines in the power plant to produce electricity.

In fact, Larderello was the only commercial geothermal power plant in the world, until the Wairakei power station was opened in New Zealand in 1958.

Currently, there are 25 geothermal power plants in the world, exploiting an abundant and sustainable resource.

Larderello, the world's first geothermal power plant, opened in 1913. The cooling towers can be seen on the right of the photo.

Steam and liquid escape from cracks in rocks at Biancane Geosite, near Monterotondo Marittimo, Italy. The liquid that escapes here has a temperature of about 110⁰C, and consists of 95% water vapor. The rest of the gases are a combination of carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide

Workers maintain one of the turbines of the Larderello power plant. This geothermal facility produces enough electricity to power 1 million homes in the surrounding areas - (Image: SCIENCE FOCUS).

Steam rising from geysers in San Federigo, near Lago Boracifero, Tuscany (Italy)

Researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) analyzed the gas composition at Biacane National Park. The park is a protected natural area full of geothermal activity