Operating Results of a 20MW Biomass Generating Plant in Italy and a GIS Analysis for Exploiting Wood Availability

Abstract

An electric 20 MW generating plant has been installed in northern Italy (Lombardy region) since 2010. Due to connection rules the plant is connected to the national transmission system at 132 kV. The biomass chosen as a fuel of the generating plant is mainly poplar chip which is produced in different areas at a distance less than 70 km in order to limit their environmental impact because of transportation and related emissions and to benefits of the Italian incentives schemes related to the so called “short supply chain”. The paper will illustrate the basic idea and the most significant elements of the plant; its operative results obtained in the last 4 years are also discussed together to the plant emissions. A particular attention is spent to analyze the biomass composition and cost which make the plant operating life sustainable by the environment and economic point of view. According to the design stage, the electric energy produced by the plant is kept as near as possible to its rated value so that a suitable policy of biomass acquisition, storage and maintenance must be applied. A suitable GIS tool has also been used to compare the biomass use of the plant and a possible management of Lombardy region in order to better maintain the wooded area within a stated extension (70 km maximum distance from the plant).