Obereggen "Hearts" the Environment!
In planning the construction of the District Heating Plant in Obereggen, not economic considerations, but rather environmental protection stood at the forefront! Special flue-gas purification equipment was installed to ensure that all detrimental emissions – e.g., fine particulates – are avoided. These measures helped Obereggen attain emission levels far below the maximum permitted levels specified by Italian law.
Advantages for the Environment:
- Fossil fuels have been replaced by wood, which has a neutral CO2 balance.
- The need to truck in heating oil has been avoided.
- The use of sustainable fuel derived from the local lumber industry as well as from agriculture and forestry is an added benefit.
With this power plant, Obereggen (which is a member of the "Alpine Pearls" as well as part of the World Natural Heritage Site of the Dolomites), has certainly made a major contribution to protecting the environment.
Technical Data:
Rated power capacity:
- 1 biomass boiler with 2,000 kW (winter operation)
- 1 biomass boiler with 500 kW (summer operation)
- 1 bio-oil boiler with 3,000 kW (reserve and for covering power consumption peaks)
- Various different flue-gas purification installations
Power distribution network:
- Total length of the distribution network: 1.8 km (DN 25 to DN 125)
Consumption data:
- district heating requirements: 4,244,200 kWh/year
- fuel requirements: 6,800 m³/year
- Fuel depot: 3,000 m³
- Max. daily consumption: 60 m³ wood chips per day
- Heating oil substitution: approx. 500,000 liters/year
Planned total cost: EURO 3 million
The Obereggen AG (stock company) has been certified according to ISO 14001:
The aerial lift company's Environmental Management System has been certified according to ISO Standard 14001 since 2004. This measure – and now the construction of the new District Heating Plant – represent a major contribution toward local and global environmental protection and air quality control. For this reason, too, Obereggen can be regarded as an "ecologically clean community." As a vacation resort and member of the "Alpine Pearls" as well as part of the World Natural Heritage Site of the Dolomites, it does its part to protect nature and the environment.
The electricity for the aerial lifts and snow cannons in Obereggen comes from renewable sources!
At the beginning of the 2009/10 winter season, Obereggen took another decisive step on behalf of environmental protection. All of the electrical energy consumed by the aerial lifts and snow cannons operated by Obereggen AG was immediately switched exclusively to renewable sources.
To achieve this, a search was undertaken for power suppliers capable of delivering electricity from renewable sources. However, electricity from renewable sources is more expensive than electricity from fossil fuel power plants, resulting in higher costs for the aerial lift company. Nevertheless, the Trenta SpA power company, which generates the electricity needed by Obereggen AG using sustainable sources, won the contract. Thus, Obereggen has not only attained another important milestone in its ecology policies, it has also made a significant contribution towards environmental protection. That's because these measures help avoid no less than 2,400 metric tons of CO2 emission annually.
