Social-multi criteria evaluation of alternative geothermal power scenarios: the case of Mt. Amiata in Italy

Italy was the first country in the world to exploit geothermal resources for the production of electricity. In Europe it is still the first country in terms of installed capacity. Currently, the only region in Italy with geothermal power plants is Tuscany. This study focuses on Mt. Amiata, one of the two geothermal areas in Tuscany, where there is strong opposition to the exploitation of geothermal resources. The context is characterized by contested scientific results regarding crucial issues such as the impact of geothermal exploitation, the conservation of water resources and human health. A social multi-criteria evaluation is proposed to explore the different legitimate perspectives of the actors involved. Scenarios are distinguished in terms of their installed capacity, technology and plant site. A Condorcet consistent aggregation algorithm is applied and results are analyzed using a sensitivity analysis. The alternative scenarios are evaluated in a multi-dimensional way by attaching different weights to the criteria reflecting divergent points of view.