Alto Garda Power
Cartiere del Garda invested in constructing a new more powerful and efficient co-generation plant, able to recycle thermal energy and to heat up the town of Riva del Garda. This concept has led to the Alto Garda Power project, promoted by Alto Garda Servizi (A.G.S.) and by Cartiere del Garda, whose objective was the replacement of the Company’s old co-generation thermo-electrical plant with a new, modern and more technologically innovative plant, able to entirely meet the factories thermal and power requirements, as well as to recycle a portion of the heat into a heating network which will supply hot water to Riva del Garda’s public and private users.
Within the context of this project, Cartiere del Garda and A.G.S. have founded the Alto Garda Power S.p.A. company, of which 80% is owned by Cartiere del Garda and 20% by A.G.S.
This 53,7 million Euro project was carried out complying strictly with AIA (Integrated Environmental Authorisation).
Phase 1: As planned, the district heating system started punctually on October 3rd 2008.
Phase 2: At the end of November 2008, the plant underwent its first tests producing electricity with the GE LM6000 turbine. An extremely positive fact worth highlighting is the extraordinary combustion performance of the new turbogas. The atmospheric emissions are not only amply below the legal limit, but are in fact half of those of the old Cartiere del Garda cogeneration plant, as well here, the net output itself was below legal limits. These data have now been fixed and consolidated, and are continually monitored on-line using high-end electronic sensors and stored on the Alto Garda Power central server.
Phase 3: The steam production for the supply of Cartiere del Garda's plant started on the 13th of December 2008. The steam is created due to the heat exchange with the turbine's combustion exhaust fumes, reducing the output temperature from 450°C to 80°C on emission to the atmosphere.
Phase 4: The steamdriven Turbomach steam turbo started at the beginning of 2009. This completes a project being already internationally considered as a landmark case study for its excellent environmental performance.
Therefore today, using actual and not just projected operation data, we can confirm with absolute certainty that the Alto Garda Power plant will provide a yearly saving of 40,000 ton equivalent petroleum and a significant reduction of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions (-53%), delivering a major benefit for air quality and the environment.
The Alto Garda Power plant is also following the iter to obtain the EMAS Registration, a voluntary registration which involves the assessment of all environmental impacts.
Under this evaluation noise issue has been taken as well into consideration. The plant has been designed and built in order to reduce the noise impact. Noisy machines have been soundproofed, external ventilation ducts have been appropriately insulated, flues and vents have been silenced with soundproofing. In addition the building has been built with concrete walls and ad hoc sound absorbing structures to maximise acoustic insulation.
In addition to the obvious environmental advantage, this project will also lead to considerable savings for the private users’ bill as well as erasing the costs for boilers, burners and related maintenance. In fact, a small heat exchanger box will be sufficient to activate the heating of elements and hot water. Moreover, the removal of domestic boilers will also mean eliminating the chimney. The result is a heating with no flame and no hazards. Furthermore, the improved power consumption significantly decreases carbon dioxide emissions, and meets the Kyoto protocol strict standards.
