22.06.2010 -
AREA Science Park and the Italian National Research Council -
Istituto Motori (CNR-IM) signed a framework convention to build a
research and development laboratory in Trieste for cogeneration and
trigeneration plants based on methane-fueled microturbines.
Cogeneration produces energy and heat at the same time, while
trigeneration also produces cooling energy to cool buildings. Under
the agreement signed by the Chairman of AREA, Giancarlo Michellone,
and the Director of CNR-IM, Paola Belardini, Istituto Motori will
provide supervision and training services.
Once the prototype has been completed, the methane-fueled
microturbine plant will be compared to a system that can produce
comparable levels of energy (100 kWh) based on an alternative
internal combustion engine, which is currently in the final stages
of development. Located in AREA Science Park, the plant will be the
only one of its kind in Italy, and will not only provide the
Science Park in Trieste with heat, air conditioning and
electricity, but will also function as a laboratory where the two
types of cogeneration can be compared under real-use conditions,
thus providing reliable data and certificates to be used by
installers.
The project has great application potential as far as the needs
of small and medium companies are concerned, but also for artisans
and retailers, not to mention other uses that may be thought of in
due course. For example, a number of cogenerators could work "in
relays" to act as a UPS supplying private or public buildings, such
as hospitals or schools.
This will improve the efficiency of investments in power
generators, which serve for emergency purposes but are often
significantly underused during their life cycle. The new laboratory
- which will be staffed by a group of researchers from the
universities of Trieste and Udine and will draw on the expertise
developed by CNR-IM in Naples in the study and experimentation of
this type of systems - is likely to become a national reference
point in the co- and trigeneration sector.
"The agreement with CNR-IM is an additional step towards the
implementation of our Enerplan energy programme, devised to promote
energy efficiency" - the Chairman of AREA, Giancarlo Michellone
explains. "In addition to the opportunity of training a group of
researchers in the area of cogeneration and trigeneration plants on
the field, the agreement will allow us to install in our park, at
the Basovizza campus, a plant that will include two turbines
similar to those developed by researchers at the centre in Naples,
which will act as an energy source and an experimental
laboratory".
"The cooperation activities agreed with AREA Science Park" - the
director of Istituto Motori, Paola Belardini, adds - "are an
opportunity for translating theoretical/experimental research
conducted at Istituto Motori and aimed at optimizing energy
conversion processes into an industrial and social context, thus
creating an example of technology transfer of basic research
applied to sectors specifically interested in the use of this
know-how".