Bio-energy case of the Alpine Lake Como area, Italy The case study presented is the output of a training period as visiting researcher attended by Salvatore Martire at European Forest Institute (EFI) Headquarters in Joensuu (Finland). Contact Diana Tuomasjukka ([email protected]) or Salvatore Martire ([email protected]) for more information. The Province of Como is a province in the The SIA for the case study investigates different aspects related to the north of the Lombardy Region of Italy and stakeholder's needs and regulatory framework. Key points of the development of borders Swiss to the North. The central and local bio-energy chains are: northern parts of the Province are mountainous, and with a large forest cover. help to achieve the Regional 2020 objectives; The population is concentrated in the plains fight depopulation of rural areas; and along the shores of Lake Como. The allow the management of un-used forests. local economy is based on industry and tourism. The SIA should investigate the effect of the development of bio-energy chain in The rural and mountain areas have a low terms of environmental and socio-economic impacts. The analysis focuses on: population density, and the lack of a solid Environmental impacts (especially Air Pollution because Lombardy economy causes the depopulation of rural Region is on the most polluted European Areas); areas. Furthermore, the proximity to Economic impacts of subsides (heat/power); important urban centers (as Como, or Mechanization level of forestry activities; Milano) contributes to the depopulation. Combustion technology; Achievement of policy objectives. Baseline year and Reference Futures are: • Baseline - 2008. Based on the data about forestry sector of Como Province. National statistics, local data and studies, local experts judgment have been considered to outline the local wood-energy chain of Lake Como area. Firewood is used largely for self-consumption (Type IA); • CHP Generation Based - 2020. Based on the 2020 Europe strategy and local plans. The chain is based on chips CHP (combined Heat and Power) plants (Type III). Subsides for electricity are included; • Heat Generation Based - 2020. Based on the 2020 Europe strategy and local plans. The chain is based on domestic heating plants (Type II). Subsides for heat generations in small plants. Scenarios are: 0 – Actual Chain. Based on logs for self-consumption. Combining baseline and reference futures with M – Mechanization. High level of mechanization in forestry activities. scenarios, 12 different chains have been B – Biomass. All biomass (annually) available is used. analyzed in ToSIA. S – Substitution. Improved of combustion technology is considered. 1 200 180 160 Local Gross 140 The study results related to flows and 120 Value Added 100 indicators can support local decision- 80 (euro/kWh ) 60 HEAT making processes, providing scientific 40 20 evidence to the decisions and directing 0 Electricity future assessment. Chips Logs Chips Logs Chips Logs Chips Logs Heat Natural Gas is used for heating and cooking. The set objective in terms of 2008-B CHP-B - High HEAT-B - HEAT-S - Products from Forests share of renewable on the total subsides for Subsides for Subsides for electricity heat heat Products from Platform consumption for Lombardy Region is 11.3%. The maximum estimated heat production covers less than 1% of Employment 2000 Natural Gas consumption of (Workers/year) 1800 households of Como Province, but it 1600 exceeds 10% for rural areas. 1400 1200 Subsides are decisive for economic 2008 1000 performances of the chain. Actually, 800 CHP they are not provided for fuel 600 production, though the forest-fuel Heat 400 chain determines the social value 200 0 (employment). - B M S Final use processes are the most important in terms of environmental and economic impacts. E.g. they 0.008 produce from 48% to 98% of the GHG- 0.007 Primary Particulate Matter Emissions (depending on the 0.006 Emissions (kg/kWhHEAT) alternative chain considered). 0.005 Transport processes don't affect 0.004 significantly sustainability. 0.003 There are not significant advantages 0.002 in using high mechanization in 0.001 forestry activities: the site-specific 0 features limit the productivity of high 2008 2008 B 2008 M2008 S CHP CHP B CHP M CHP S Heat Heat B Heat M Heat S mechanization system; CHP plants have been modelled as 450000 most efficient technology option, and GHG Emissions 400000 fuelled with forestry chips, so it has fromfuel the best environmental and consumption 350000 economic performance. However the 300000 development of large size systems (kgCO2EQ/year) 250000 may involve the importation of fuels, Transport or the use of urban waste, and this 200000 may lead to different impacts on Transformation 150000 sustainability; Forestry management and 100000 operations Absolute results show that only an 50000 increase in biomass use can lead to a 0 significant increase of workers 2008 2008 B CHP B HEAT S involved in the local forest-energy: up to 50%; The proposed case study has shown the usefulness of ToSIA for the assessment of The reduction of environmental impacts is possible also increasing sustainability at the local level. In addition, it allowed the modeling of a local energy biomass use thanks to an system, which in itself is a useful tool for managing and directing local policies. improvement of combustion technology. 2 .