Can a challenge in geothermal operations become a valuable resource?
In the second episode of Inside GEOFLEXheat – Interview Series, we take a closer look at one of the technologies being developed for the Italian demonstration site: the Scaling Reactor.
Paolo Taddei, founder of SPIKE Renewables S.r.l., explains how the company is developing the reactor to address silica scaling, one of the challenges associated with geothermal brines.
Tackling silica before it becomes a problem
When silica precipitates from geothermal brine, it can accumulate on mechanical components and affect system performance. The Scaling Reactor is designed to reduce silica content before reinjection, helping limit scaling and enabling lower-temperature reinjection into geothermal wells.
But the solution goes one step further.
The system also offers the possibility of collecting the silica minerals removed from the geothermal fluid. Rather than treating these minerals simply as a by-product, GEOFLEXheat is exploring their potential for reuse in other applications — opening up possibilities for additional value from geothermal operations.
Testing the solution in the field
The Italian demonstration will be an important step in understanding how the Scaling Reactor performs under real geothermal conditions. As Paolo explains, geothermal sites have different characteristics, making advanced monitoring and instrumentation essential to adapt the technology to each specific environment.
The demonstration will therefore provide practical insights into how scaling can be managed, how silica can be recovered and how the technology can contribute to more efficient and sustainable geothermal operations.
From managing scaling to recovering minerals, the Scaling Reactor illustrates how GEOFLEXheat is looking to turn a technical challenge into an opportunity for greater resource efficiency.
Watch Episode 2 of Inside GEOFLEXheat with Paolo Taddei to discover how the project is developing new approaches to silica scaling and mineral recovery.