ARE LIGURIA SPARegional Energy Agency of Liguria

Via Peschiera 1616121 Genova

E-mail: are.liguria@filse.itTel. +39 010 8403343Fax +39 010 8403397

“Robin Wood”Technical meeting

PresovDec 15th -16th, 2005

Summary

1. Liguria and ARE Liguria: who we are2. The Regional Energy Plan3. Link with Robinwood4. Our “choices”…5. What we have done practically

• Val di Vara• Val Bormida

6. Other projects going on in Liguria7. Robinwood deliverables

1. Liguria Region

• Population: 1.560.748 inhabitants• Area: 5.421 km2

• Provinces: Genova, Savona, La Spezia, Imperia• Municipalities: 235

GENOVA

LA SPEZIA

SAVONA

IMPERIA

ARE Liguria S.p.A.: who we are

INSTITUTIONAL ROLECarrying out regional policies

OPERATIVE ROLETaking initiative, promoting

and participating directly in the implementation of projects

ARE Liguria S.p.A. is the “technical structure serving the Region of Liguria in the area of energy policies and sustainable

development”

(Regional Law no. 18/99)

• Technical Support to Public Administrations

• Managing relations between local government and private/public operators

• Solution finding for projects in the energy field

• Promoter of projects with renewable energy sources

• Dissemination and Education

2. The Regional Energy Plan

In December 2003 the Region of Liguria approved its Regional Energy and Environmental Plan (PEAR) with the following objectives by 2010:

•Stabilise emissions to to 1990 levels;• Increase energy efficiency in the most

consuming sectors;•Reach at least 7% of the total energy

production through RES

Implementation approach

TWO phases:1. Testing: Energy Plan to be tested in

pilot areas (best practices) in 2003-05

2. Implementation: throughout the Region in 2006-2010.

What is a “pilot area”?

Pilot areas, selected by the Region together with Local Authorities, are conceived to find and test: economic feasibility repeatibility of interventionsespecially in the field of renewable sources of energy.

Test the implementation process of the Plan

Find and measure the tools to apply afterwards to the whole regional territory.

Objectives of the pilot areas

Pilot areas: selection criteriaPilot areas: selection criteria

TerritoryTerritoryTerritoryTerritory EnergyEnergyEnergyEnergy

Socio-economicsSocio-economicsSocio-economicsSocio-economicsTerritorial planningTerritorial planning(PTR, PTCP, ECC)(PTR, PTCP, ECC)

Territorial planningTerritorial planning(PTR, PTCP, ECC)(PTR, PTCP, ECC) Renewable energyRenewable energy

potentialpotential

Renewable energyRenewable energypotentialpotential

InfrastructuresInfrastructuresInfrastructuresInfrastructures

Energy demandEnergy demandEnergy demandEnergy demand

TechnologyTechnologyTechnologyTechnologyEnvironmentEnvironmentEnvironmentEnvironment

From the macro-criteria: territory and energy

we derive more specific criteria

Pilot areas

1. Energy from wooden biomass

2. Solar thermal in tourism

3. Energy savings in buildings

4. Energy efficiency in industrial areas through self-production

5. Special interventions in the fields of wind energy and small-hydro

3. Link with Robinwood…

Resorting to woodland biomass becomes Resorting to woodland biomass becomes particularly important as a way of particularly important as a way of protecting and safeguarding the natural protecting and safeguarding the natural environment. The use of this energy environment. The use of this energy source could mean the reclamation of source could mean the reclamation of neglected woodland areas, not only for neglected woodland areas, not only for recreational and cultural reasons, but also recreational and cultural reasons, but also as a means of developing a defence as a means of developing a defence against fires and hydro-geological against fires and hydro-geological disruption, two illnesses which devastate disruption, two illnesses which devastate vast areas of Liguria every year.vast areas of Liguria every year.

Objectives Strategy

Manage and care Manage and care

abandoned forestsabandoned forests

Prevent fires andPrevent fires and

hydrogeologicalhydrogeological

disordersdisorders

Promote thePromote the

economic exploitationeconomic exploitation

of wood (agricolture, tourism,of wood (agricolture, tourism,

handcraft, commerce, etc.)handcraft, commerce, etc.)

Increase employmentIncrease employment

Manage and care Manage and care

abandoned forestsabandoned forests

Prevent fires andPrevent fires and

hydrogeologicalhydrogeological

disordersdisorders

Promote thePromote the

economic exploitationeconomic exploitation

of wood (agricolture, tourism,of wood (agricolture, tourism,

handcraft, commerce, etc.)handcraft, commerce, etc.)

Increase employmentIncrease employment

Forest managementForest managementForest managementForest management

Wood residues for energyWood residues for energy

Small heating plants Small heating plants

Wood residues for energyWood residues for energy

Small heating plants Small heating plants

3. Link with Robinwood…

4. Our choices: Wood to energy

Wood to energy

Waste to energy

PEAR classification for wooden biomass

Biomass sources

Following PEAR classification, biomass can be divided in:

Wooden biomass originatingWooden biomass originating from forestry use from forestry use in the woodland areasin the woodland areas Wooden biomass originatingWooden biomass originating from scraps, from scraps, woodchip, saw-mill (untreated)woodchip, saw-mill (untreated) Wooden biomass originatingWooden biomass originating from the upkeep of from the upkeep of urban parks and gardensurban parks and gardens

Sizes of wooden biomass power plants

• Target: to install a capacity of 150 MWth (also in CHP)• Priority: thermal power < 300 MWth (per plant)• Size suggested by PEAR: 1-4 MWel

Potenza installata MWt

Impianti domestici

Impianti industriali

Cogenerazione

MWt MWt MWt MWtA 150 150 0 0B 150 70 80 0C 150 70 0 80

Rendimenti Ipotizzati % 80 25 e 20 e + 45 t

Ore funzionamento 2000 7000 7000

Scenario

Tools for the implementation of wood chain

• Financial tools: incentives, taxes, etc.• Administrative tools: shorter procedures,

Sportello Unico (special single office that gives all autorizations)

• Marketing tools: labelling, promotion and dissemination

• Sustainability tools: Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Strategic Assessment, EMAS, ISO 14000, energy certification

• Evaluation and monitoring tools

Tools for the implementation of wood chain

• Managerial tools: ESCos, cooperatives, multiutility companies

• Cooperation tools: partnerships with local stakeholders and between regional/local authorities

• Technical assistance: for start-ups• Technical tools: building regulations,

feasibility studies, Informative Energy System

Approach

For a correct biomass plant project it is necessary to take into account:

• Energy demand (especially thermal energy)

• Availability of wooden biomass• Availability of suitable areas• Possibility of grid connection (in case of

electricity production)

5. What we have done practically

Pilot areas for wooden biomass: where?

Alta Val Bormida Val di Vara

GENOVA

LA SPEZIA

SAVONA

IMPERIA

Mountain community

In Liguria there are 19 mountain communities

Activities in pilot areas

Energy consumption

analysis

Identification of best sites

Power plant project

Business plan (plant and supply chain)

Implementation(2006)

Analysis of territorial barriers

Energy potential from

biomass

Energy consumption and potential from biomass

ALTAVAL DI VARA34.310 t/year

M. B. VALLE13.089 t/year

47.399 t/year

STEEPNESS

< 35 %ALTA

VAL DI VARA74.429 t/year

MEDIA BASSA VAL DI VARA31.829 t/year

106.258 t/year

STEEPNESS

< 50 %

• Thermal consumption not Thermal consumption not concentratedconcentrated

• Widespread distribution of Widespread distribution of the methane gas network the methane gas network

Electricity consumption: 78,2 GWhThermal consumption:•Private houses(104.696 MWh•industrial (2.500 MWh),•others (18.000 MWh).

Low value of thermal consumption

steepness

Foreseen biomass plants

• Capacity: 2 t/h (9.000t/y)• Woodchip consumption:

16.000 t/y

• Electricity supplied to the grid• Thermal power used for pellets

production plant and others industrial users

• Size: 1.6 MW or 500 kW (electric power)

1. Pellets production plant

2. Matching withCHP

Technology

Plant PotentialBiomass annual

consumption

Cost(Millions

€)

Fuel Pellets 2 t/year 14.400 1,8

Co-generation

plants

SteamOrganic fluids

1.700 kWel

475 kWel

22.0006.400

3,93.5

Management tool: consortium!

Who will join the consortium ?

- MunicipalitiesMunicipalities and private landwood ownersprivate landwood owners

- OthersOthers (mountain community, local enterprises related to forest

activities)

Which will be the mission?

• Redaction of local Forest Management Plans• Research for public funds• Forest certification• Training, negotiation, partnerships

Business plan

• Cost analysis• Cash-flow• Payback period • Profit-loss balance

aims:

• Test the economic profitability• Address the repeatibility of interventions (in

other areas)

Business plan: results

• Pay back time:– Pellet 8 years– CHP (Rankine Cycle): 5 years– CHP ORC 6 years

• Payback period is heavily influenced by the cost of woodchip

Power plant Forest management

% of managed woodland increase every year Job creation: 30 Payback period : 8 years

Forest management kick off needs financial

support

Solutions

Solutions identified for Val Bormida:• District heating in the Municipality of Carcare• Small CHP (in relation with local wood market) in the Municipality of Massimino

Biomass power plants characteristics

• For public users only (schools and gym)

• Size: 800 kW (thermal power)• Consumption: ~ 1000 t/y of

woodchip

• Electricity supplied to the grid• Thermal power used for

heating-processes of local enterprises (transformation of wood) and for domestic heating

• Size: 600 kW (electric power)• Consumption: ~ 16.500 t/y of

woodchip

District heatingMunicipality of Carcare

CHP - Municipality of Massimino

District heating for the Municipality of Carcare: success factors

Public buildings in a restricted area Good access conditions for supply (lorry can easily reach the silo) Good conditions for district heating network (underground) Administration interested and committed to the project

Volume (public buildings): about 49.000 mc Size: 800 kW (thermal power) Energy production on annual basis: 1.308.000 kWh Woodchip consumption : 978 t/anno Cost: 600.000 Euro

CHP for the Municipality of Massimino: success factors

Availability of suitable areas Possibility of grid connection Green certificates for the first 8 years Agreement between Municipality and local sawmill Municipality that is interested and committed to the project Possibility to use the Thermal power for heating-processes of local

enterprises (transformation of wood) and for domestic heating

Net electric power: 570 kW Thermal power: 2870 kW Production of electricity on annual basis: 4.788.000 kWh Woodchip consumption: 16.600 t/y Cost: 2.800.000 Euro

Business plan: results

POWER PLANT FOREST MANAGEMENT

Both based on technical average life of plants

15 years

• Increase in managed woodland area• Protection of environment• Development of local wood market• Job creation

BENEFITS

Conclusions

• District heating is interesting from an economical point of view only if supported by public funds (around 30%) with a pay-back period below 5 years and 20 – 25 % savings for final users

• CHP is interesting also for privates (construction and management of plant) with a pay-back period around 5 years

Next steps – january 2005

• Document of intent between public bodies involved in the projects (region, provinces, mountain communities)

• Detailed analysis of supply chain• Detailed analysis legal and

administrative steps to put in practice to start-up the plants

• Call for tender (project financing)

6. Other projects going on in Liguria

• Mountain Community Valli Stura e Orba3 district heating plants (Rossiglione and Campoligure in use,

Masone under construction)Total Thermal Power 3 MWthAverage use per plant 1.000 tons/yearForest consortium S.O.B.E.A. combining forest owners, forest

operators, plant management team.

• Alta Valle ArrosciaProject for CHP PlantElectric Power 1.8 MWeAnnual use of chips 20.000 tons/yearDistrict pipe length 1.200 mProject co-financed with public fund (objective 2 area)

Other projects going on in Liguria

• Mountain Community Valle Scrivia – CHP 1.8 MW• Municipality of Rocchetta Vara – District heating 100 kW• Municipalities of Calizzano, Bardineto, Bormida

• Mountain Community GiovoProject for District Heating plant

Thermal Power 2.4 MWthAnnual Use of chips 2.600 tons/yearPercentage of local wood 95%Interested area 600 hectareFinal planning farm out phase

7. Robinwood deliverables

A. Wood fuel report for Liguria Region (done)

B. Analysis of regional resources (done)C. Analysis of wood resources and energy

demand (in progress)D. List of stakeholder (in progress)E. Catalogue of technologies and logistic

systems (in progress)

A. Wood fuel report for Liguria Region - 1

Woodland areas: 83% private ownership 11% municipalities

Wood fuel report for Liguria Region:

• Wood fuel resourceData source and parametersResource assessmentTypical trading condition for timberConclusions of resource assessment

• Wood energy useTypical energy usersDifferent types of wood energy useThe stake of renewable energy sources against total energy production

• Regulation• Support mechanisms and activities

Specific regional activities and projectsSpecific regional instruments to encourage the use of renewable energy sourcesStakeholders

• Potential market for wood fuelled heatingPotential market

• Conclusions and recommendations

The analysis highlights:• potential development for wood fuel market, deriving from the high availability of woodland biomass of the territory

• obstacles rising from scarce attention to the management and maintenance problems of woodland asset and rural areas often characterised by progressive depopulation of both inhabitants and industries connected to the local resources.

Regional Energy Environmental Plan planning instrument both for energy and environment.

• solutions for the improvement of woodland biomass • foundation for the successful replication within the regional territory, of plants and organisational and managerial schemes based on associations of forestry management that, together with the traditional timber products, are capable of energy production within a technically viable and economically sustainable process.

Conclusions and recommendations

Through the promotion of the use of wood fuel and the support to troubled sectors connected to the wood resources, the Plan seeks for successful effects on a local scale, also in terms of employment generated by new local industries.

pilot areas

A. Wood fuel report for Liguria Region - 2

ProvinceWoodland surface (hectares)

Regional Forestry Plan ISTAT survey 1991 CORINE Programme

Genova 99.669 47.993 121.212

Imperia 44.295 31.549 51.077

La Spezia 52.139 32.319 58.357

Savona 98.458 80.011 106.201

TOTAL 294.561 191.872 336.847

Energy potential from woodland biomass

Province Toe %

Genova 155.959 34%

Imperia 69.244 15%

La Spezia 81.865 18%

Savona 156.545 34%

TOTAL 463.613 100%

A. Wood fuel report for Liguria Region - 3

Short-medium term perspectives for wood-energy in Liguria

• Small district heating plants For public/private users - Demand for spot thermal energy - Lack of funding

• Co-generation plants in industrial areas/wood transformation - Critical point: small size for scarce resources availability - High cost of wood chips (> 0,45 €/ton)

• Plants for pellets production - High demand of pellets - Small demand of wood chips (19.000 tons/year) - Funding of Environmental Ministry

10% plant30 – 50% stoves

B. Regional resources available

Information about usable resources concerning wood energy in Liguria comes from:

• Forestry Map (2002) official Regional Technical Map - scale 1:25.000.

• Land Use Map (2000) originates from the CORINE legend - scale 1:25.000.

Forestry map

Forestry Map

It ensures an immediate view of useful territorial reference points, permits the organisation of forestry/woodland themes on a geometrical matrix identical to all the different products on the Territorial Informative System of the Region of Liguria (S.I.T.A.R.) For each forestry/woodland theme it is possible to know the surface and the perimeter

Land use map

Land Use Map

It indicates the inhabited and settled areas, burnt land areas, anthropic strips and terracing, inlay of the categories, artificially (manmade) shaped terrain, farming land, woodlands and semi-natural environments, humid areas, water, etc. The Land Use Map originates from the CORINE legend (CORdination de l’INformation pour l’Environment)

C. Analysis of wood resources - 1

The theoretical potential of extractable wood biomass was calculated on the basis of woodland surface area which could be cut down annually in accordance with an appropriate turnover system, followed up by quantifying the volume of biomass that could, in theory, be extracted while leaving the forestry patrimony intact.

• percentage of the areas annually felled set at 2% for each type of high forest and 4% for copses.

• turnover of the trees, aged 50 for high forest and 25 years for copses, takes into account an operation of tree-felling that does not cause alteration to the area’s natural physiology.

• volume mass, for dry substances in high forest, of 0.45-0.60 t/mc (as per type), in comparison with timber production equal to 300-400 mc/ha, while in the case of coppices the mass to be used is 0.70 ton/m3 (dry material) and timber production is set at 140 m3/ha.Volume mass, wood production and felling

Woodland type % per yearVolume mass

(tons/mq)Wood production

(mq/ha)

Resinuous (high forest) coppice 2 0,45 400

Hardwood coppice 2 0,60 300

Mixed coppice 2 0,50 300

Copse 4 0,70 140

Next step: find more detailed data for every single mountain community

C. Analysis of energy demand

ELECTRICAL• available data for every province (derived from a survey) per sector (buildings, industry, agricolture)

THERMAL• available data only for domestic heating for every municipalities (not derived from a survey but from calculations)

• Lack of information on thermal consumpion• Different level of fragmentation (region, province, mountain community, municipalities)

Difficulties to overcome

D. Selection of technologies

On the basis of results achieved in the pilot areas, the most interesting technologies for Liguria are:

• District heating (especially for public users)

• CHP (<5MW) with classical Rankine Cycle or with Organic Rankine Cycle

• Pellets stoves• Pellets production plants