German multinational floriculture company buys Italian boiler
The spread between Italy and Germany is on the up, but the trust of German customers in the Italian quality product is increasing. This is the case in the field of solid biomass boilers, where a German multinational company, Selecta, a world leader in floriculture, after careful consideration, turned to Uniconfort, an Italian company, to install a biomass plant in its Latina branch. This is quite the noteworthy statement for Italian technicians, since Germany has a long tradition in the production of this type of plant and the Germans have only bought domestic products up to this point. “We work with over 100 countries worldwide,” explains Zinetti Davis, CEO of Uniconfort “We have been designing, manufacturing and installing solid biomass power plants in different continents for over 60 years. However, this is the first time that we have been given approval by a German group. It is certainly a sign that our technology has reached the same level as that of northern European companies, which have also been forerunners in this area”.
THE THERMAL ACCOUNT SELECTS THE BEST MANU- FACTURERS
Ever since the new thermal account was approved, the characteristics required by plants to gain access to facilities and incentives have become more stringent and there are few companies that produce solid biomass plants are able to meet the parameters of quality and efficiency provided. “We welcomed this legislation,” continues Zinetti, “because it weeds out those who are not able to provide a good product and those who are, thus raising the quality of supply.” And chasing the Germans in terms of quality is second to none. “Selecta,” he states, “has undergone a real examination of quality, both in terms of processes and of products, and Uniconfort got top marks!”
FLOWERS AND PLANTS THAT ARE EVER MORE..... GREEN!
Selecta is a multinational landscaping company based in Stuttgart which works with the whole world and supplies a good part of the floriculturists along our Peninsula. The company deals with floriculture, hybridisation and producing and selling ornamental plants. The multinational Venetian company has installed a 1.8 MW boiler fuelled by solid biomass in its subsidiary in Latina, Italy, and this will heat the greenhouses and workplaces in the coming winter season.
AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS GRATEFUL TOO!
Indeed, each biomass boiler installed means one ton less of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere annually. Solid biomass fuel has a zero CO2 emission. And that’s not all. Thanks to the latest technology, Uniconfort boilers have an overall zero impact on the environment, with almost complete containment of solid and gaseous emissions.
GREENHOUSES AND FLORICULTURE: THE IDEAL MARKET FOR BIOMASS
So, Italian technology conquers Germany, and does so after spreading its roots in the world of flower production in Italy. “The Energy Account seems tailored for farms and nurseries, which require low-power plants, facilitated by the law, and are able to come by the biomass needed easily or can obtain it from production waste,” concludes Zinetti, “But going beyond the benefits provided for by law, we must remember that solid biomass costs half that of fossil fuels and costs nothing if self-produced. So, it stands to reason that the switch to biomass will bring about considerable savings on heating greenhouses and work areas, which leads to amortisation of the original investment in a very short time.” Savings estimated at about 50% less than costs for fuel, which allows investments to increase the area under cultivation and to anticipate flowering. How good an investment it is can also be indicated by the many positive experiences in this area in Italy, where innumerable nurseries have abandoned the more expensive diesel fuel for biomass, which is more often than not self-produced; but also abroad, where Uniconfort is building several plants, namely in Finland, England, France, Canada and Australia.
THE ENERGY BILL IS CUT TO MEASURE FOR NURSERIES!
The nurseries have a specific incentive program dedicated to their sector. We give you the advice necessary to quantify the number of White Certificates which you are entitled.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ENERGY ACCOUNT FOR SELECTA
- Hot water plant: 1,8 MW/h heat
- Contributions received: 100.000 Euro per year for five years
- Total (approximate values): 500.000 Euro