THE PLANT
Launched in 2001, it consists of a 550 kW heating plant which uses wood chips. Thanks to a district heating network of about 150 m length and 10,000 m3 volume, it provides heat to the City Hall and, nursery and primary school along with their gym and cafeteria. The total demand of heat amounts to about 400 MWh / year for an average annual consumption of about 650 msr (bulk cubic meters) of wood chips. The agreed price of heat is equal to 62.60 / MWh and the distribution of heating costs is done through a system of accounting for the heat applied to the entire plant. The total investment for the construction of the plant amounted to Euro 308,628.00 of which 80% was funded by the Piedmont Region and the remaining 20% by the Province of Biella, the Upper and Lower Elvo Valley Mountain Communities and Municipalities of Upper Occhieppo and Zubiena.
THE SUPPLY CHAIN
The supply of wood chips is entrusted to a firm which carries out maintenance works of the company’s surrounding forests: both public and private, ensuring a regular supply of autochthonous biomass.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS
From the ecological point of view, it can be estimated that the system replaces a consumption of 40,000 liters of diesel oil/year and therefore reduces 127.6 t/year of CO2 emission. A local supply chain of wood-energy allows launching a coordinated process of forest management - from which it is possible to boost economy related to forest and timber processing. And it also allows to value, from a touristic point of view, a forestry area which, if well maintained, would increase its landscape value.
PLANT SPECIFICATION
- Boiler power: 550 kW
- Request of total heat: 400 MWh/A
- Heated volume: 9500 m³
- Investment: 308.628 euro
- Equivalent fossil fuel: 40.000 l diesel