A geothermal resource capable of producing clean energy for decades has been discovered in Vantaa (Helsinki). This is news with huge implications for the global energy sector. In addition to being the country’s main airport, Vantaa is home to many of the country’s high-tech start-ups: it will be a landmark in these years when, to overcome the crisis and rising energy costs, there is talk of a return to nuclear power stations. Thanks to the Vantaa plant, Finland will be carbon neutral by 2030. Geothermal energy uses the earth’s internal heat to generate electricity, heat or air condition rooms using various systems. The main drawback is the difficulty of finding deposits. The advantages are many: it works non-stop, is always available and constant, is quiet, reduces running costs, requires little maintenance, creates jobs, occupies little space and is excellent for both heating and cooling homes. Another very important aspect is that heat that cannot be used immediately can be recirculated. The innovative aspect of the Finnish project, called Varanto, is precisely the seasonal heat storage system, the largest in the world, which stores energy to ensure a continuous supply even during the harsh northern winters.
