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Energy Efficiency: an Innovative Laboratory for Methane-Fueled Microturbines 

Agreement between AREA and CNR-IM (Naples)


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".

 

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