Archive for Italy
ENERGY+ PUMPS Spread of centrifugal pumps to increase the efficiency of domestic boilers
Posted by: | CommentsL’ objective is the transformation of the market by introducing new centrifugal pumps for increased efficiency – Energy+ pumps – for much more efficient circulation of heating than already used today. A new age of technology of pumps with the use of commutation electronics is available and allows a reduction of consumption of approximately 60% to be obtained.
Archimede project. Developing solar thermodynamics – Sicilia, Italy
Posted by: | CommentsPerfect wind and solar conditions make the town of Priolo Gargallo (200.000 inhabitants), a town on the east coast of Sicily (Italy), a unique location for applying innovative sustainable technologies. One major innovation is a local solar power plant. The plant generates steam from solar radiation, which is then fed into the steam cycle of a gas-fired combined cycle power station next to it. The system combines several innovations that over-come the existing problems of solar power systems.
Nobel Prize winning physicist Carlo Rubbia, president of the alternative energy agency ENEA, has opened the pilot of the Archimedes solar power plant in 2004. The prototype on industrial scale, which will supply energy to the town of Priolo Gargallo and save 39.0000 tons of CO2 emissions each year.
Bio-energy Village Jühnde – Germany
Posted by: | CommentsThe central idea of this model is a complete shift of energy sources for an entire village – away from conventional sources to the renewable and CO2 neutral biomass.
One such community is the bio-energy village in Jühnde, located in the southern part of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the first of its kind in Germany, and aims to completely replace its fossil energy use for heating and electricity through bio-energy. The know-how attained in Jühnde is to be transferred to other suited neighbouring villages in an upcoming process to be started in autumn 2006. The energy system in the Jühnde model is operated by a local cooperative company. Beforehand, all inhabitants were invited to participate in the planning process. Working groups dealt with concrete visions about the energy future of their community. The common decision-making and problem-solving in the process of reorientation and conversion to renewable energy sources generated a new sense of orientation and connectedness within the community. So this participatory business case guarantees a high compatibility with local needs and networks of actors, while local competence can be established. One of the formulated aims of the Jühnde model is to support the local cultural heritage, and to strengthen the community life and identity.
Furthermore, a new market for farmers focusing on biomass as a renewable energy source is generated in addition to the traditional demand for crops. Selling bio-energy crops and wood as biomass creates a new income base for local farmers, and leads to higher employment levels in this sector. Economic prosperity can thus be secured in the long-term, given the steady rise in fossil-fuel costs. Also, the overall effect on the region’s and country’s balance of trade is positive, as payments for oil and natural gas imports are reduced.
The methodology and human resources of the ESTEEM tool has been used starting in January 2007.
Energetic use of biomass – Trentino Alto Adige, Italy [ReXergy Project]
Posted by: | CommentsThe FEM with the collaboration of different partners implemented and foresaw in the medium term initiatives included in the project named “Parco dell’Energia” (ReXergy) divided in different subsets and which has the theme of sustainable energy as leitmotif. The actions and interventions programmed have the task to promote:
1) The spread of the use of sustainable energy resources (WP1);
2) Energy saving and energy efficiency of facilities and of buildings (WP2);
3) The creation of a observatory for the sustainable energy dedicated to agricultural enterprises (WP3).
The project is based on of three level of action: pointed research, to widen scientific knowledge in some sectors (anaerobic digestion; bio ethanol; cell functioning with fuel) technological transfer of innovations gauging the interventions to the specificities of local entrepreneurial situations; moments of training and spread.
European Project Create Acceptance
Posted by: | CommentsCreate Acceptance has been finalized successfully in 2008. The main outcome of the project is the ESTEEM tool (Engage stakeholders through a systematic toolbox to manage new energy projects). This tool is developed for projects managers of new energy projects who want to improve the societal acceptance of their project by stimulating the participate of stakeholders.
In principle, citizens support sustainable energy sources. Yet in practice, many projects actually face problems of acceptance. Sustainable energy projects need the support of stakeholders. In order to be successful, projects need to fit into various social contexts: they need to adapt to and shape society’s expectations.
ESTEEM is designed to help you find out how well your project fits into its social context, to learn about your stakeholders’ concerns and expectations toward the project, and to identify mutually acceptable solutions to potential difficulties. It is a structured process consisting of six steps.
The ESTEEM process is designed to be used by a consultant supporting the work of an energy project manager. As an ESTEEM consultant, you can be a business consultant, an academic or an NGO. You can also be an ‘in-house consultant’, working for the project management team.
ESTEEM provides a tool to structure your cooperation with the project manager and the stakeholders and drive the project to successful conclusion.
The only power source of the system is the sun power and the only power transformation involved is that needed to make positioning and focusing system working. The power transferred on the object is given by a geometrical reflection of incident sunlight.
The system works according to the principle of the incident ray of light being reflected on a level surface; the sunlight is reflected from outside into the tunnel, producing then a natural beam which completely eliminates sudden changes in lighting.
A photovoltaic cells battery transform a small amount of energy provided by the sun in electricity, that drives a hydraulic power centre and an electronic device in charge of focusing and moving the reflecting surface.
The project aims at finding innovative sustainable solutions for the reconversion of disused industrial areas in the town of Ortona (Provincia di Chieti, Italy). The goal has been reached through the cooperative efforts of the local partners: Provincia di Chieti, Municipality of Ortona and the local energy agency, A.L.E.S.A. The Plan, co-financed by the national Ministry for the Environment, was designed: to increase the sustainability value in the local context through the protection and exploitation of the local ecosystem; to make local community aware of the rational use of the resources; to study new sustainable models for the reconversion of disused areas in residential sites. The main results are: 1) biodiversity in urban areas: a “Biodiversity map” has been drawn up highlighting 40 public areas for the preservation of the local ecosystem; 2) the “Resources Centre for the Sustainability”: 150 mq of environmental training centre for citizens, schools and technicians; 3) n. 4 studies have been carried out in different areas to investigate their RES & RUE potentialities and to design eco-compatible buildings; 4) dissemination activities (survey; workshops, web-site, newsletters, events etc.) addressed to the local population (students, households, end-users). The project is by now in its final phase. The next step is the identification of strategic public-private partnership for the realization of the village.
Environment Park – Turin, Italy Technological Park
Posted by: | CommentsEnvironment Park is part of the strategy which supports the innovation and that characterizes the territory of Piemonte, as a subject of connection between the research world and the industrial system. In the operative sectors where it acts (Technology Observatories and laboratories), the activity model of the Park is structured in the following points:
Revelation of the technologic requests of the territory in relation with the development trends of the new sustainable technologies;
Recognition of the technical-regulations evolution;
Development of the initiative of applied research in partnership with enterprises and research agencies;
Networking activity directed to the increase of innovative distribution systems;
Diffusion of information relative to the best technological practices in the sectors of intervention.
L’ objective is the transformation of the market by introducing new centrifugal pumps for increased efficiency – Energy+ pumps – for much more efficient circulation of heating than already used today. A new age of technology of pumps with the use of commutation electronics is available and allows a reduction of consumption of approximately 60% to be obtained.
Varese Ligure towards 100% renewable – Varese Ligure, Italy. [Technologies Alternative]
Posted by: | CommentsA decade ago, Varese Ligure found itself in difficulties due to a weakening economy, declining settlements and people moving away. This prompted the mayor to try to do something to reverse the trend and revitalize the local authority by investing in its main resources within the framework of sustainable development.
The investment in renovation of the urban centre, in organic farming and renewable energies boosted the environmental quality of the village, which eventually allowed it to become the first ISO 14001 certified Italian local authority in October, 1999 and the first European EMAS-registered local authority in November 1999. All these actions have resulted in important synergies that support each other towards the final aim of being 100% renewable and 100% organic.
