The use of forestry biomass for co-generation in a mountain territory

The paper analyzes the Borbera valley located in the Northern Apennines (Italy), a territory severely affected by depopulation, deterioration of the environment and by hydro-geological instability. As these peculiarities concern the entire Apennines which cover more than 36% (10.7 ML ha) of the country, crossing Italy from North to South, this is a big socio-economic national problem. A turnabout requires the development of the forest and agro-zootechnical resources with an innovative and heavy programme. As for as the forest resources are concerned, this paper focuses on the energy uses utilizing the new available technologies. The Borbera Valley is rich in forests (20.00 ha, >67% of the total area) most of them copse, poor in maintenance and exploitation. After identifying the biomass availability, the paper analyses the available technologies in order to get the optimum in terms of the efficiency of the electric conversion, use of the thermal energy, environmental sustainability, social and economic benefits. Then simulates and analyses the most interesting thermal users, suitable for a biomass CHP (combined heat & power plant) comparing two of the most suitable technologies in different work condition. An economical analysis complete the work.