Valle Stura project began in 2002 aiming at the innovative creation of a chain forest-energy, in place of the more conventional wood-energy, which, starting from the maintenance and cultivation of the local forests, produces the wood chips feeding three biomass boilers. These are finally supplying heat to three distinct district-heating networks during the cold seasons. The project successfully demonstrated both the forest management and the heating network functionality. The idea was initially promoted by the Valle Stura Comunita’ Montana and it was fully financed by the Liguria Regional Council, Italy.
The project encompassed the construction of three thermal plants in the towns of Campo Ligure, Rossiglione and Masone. The plants of Campo Ligure and Rossiglione have been equipped with Uniconfort Biotec boilers of 0,7 MWth and 1,1 MWth, respectively; in Masone a GEM burner of 1,1 MWth has been installed.
The plants in Campo Ligure and Rossiglione have begun operation in the early months of 2005 , while Masone plant is currently in completion and testing: normal operation is scheduled from the winter season 2009-2010.
The TPG, as technological advisor, has collaborated to the different phases of planning, to the realization of the fittings and to the continuous monitoring of plant performance, highlighting and introducing improvements in the plant management in order to augment reliability, efficiency and, as a final outcome, profitability as well. The monitoring activity is performed through tele-control devices installed by Computherm. The monitoring of the full cold season of 2007-2008 allowed to optimise the plant management achieving savings in the biomass fuel in the order of 30%, demonstrated by the data of the following cold season 2008-2009.
