Example of biomass projects:
Savigliano

Biomass

Olicar is following the development of the woody biomass sector with great interest. This resource can come from forestry as a by-product from woodland use or from wood-processing industries’ waste, pruning waste or dedicated wood cultivation.

If biomass is used with careful planning combined with appropriate technical energy know-how, it can:

help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and national energy dependence on fossil fuels
guarantee energy production based on locally available resources, contributing to the promotion of natural local resources
support the development of new professionals in the bioenergy and agroforestry fields

Olicar can formulate detailed feasibility studies with the aim of constructing a power plant, whether heating, cogeneration or electrical microgeneration. Based on detailed preliminary analyses Olicar will carry out the planning, construction and management of the plant, in agreement with the relevant administration.
Every analysis is based on a preliminary study of the relationship between the raw material requirements and the energy requirements of the final users, taking into consideration the specific local conditions and the possibility of integrating locally available resources with the establishment of dedicated wood cultivation (Short Rotation Forestry).
When it comes to the planning and management of these plants, Olicar can draw on the same cutting-edge technical skills that characterize the planning and construction of plants using traditional sources. Very often characteristics linked to factors such as biomass availability and final energy needs obligate the study and planning of hybrid plants, which integrate the use of biomass and traditional resources (generally natural gas). Olicar is currently analysing the feasibility of three woody biomass cogeneration plants just under 1 MWe in Sardinia, Marche and Piedmont.

Advantages with Olicar

Feasibility study
Olicar is completely responsible for funding the plant’s construction and management
Possibility of profiting from publicly owned woodland
Guaranteed employment opportunities (production chain, plant management)
Environmental protection (selective and rational cutting, fire control)
Saving on electricity and heating bills (if district heating can be applied)
Lowering of emissions
Possibility of new investments using the increased revenue
Improvement of image around the local area

Biomass success essentially depends on:

careful planning and management of the biomass production chain
type of raw material selected based on specialized needs
use of high-efficiency boilers (>80%) and appropriate remote-control technology
fuel with a suitable moisture level (around 25-30%)

Typical wood fuel forms are:

Chips: small wood shavings that can be used in domestic plants as well as large heating systems or cogeneration plants (2-8 cm flakes)
Pellets: generally considered the woody biofuel best suited to domestic use. The pellets are made from the compression of woody material into small cylinders. They are distributed in convenient sacks and are easy and clean to handle (1.5-2 cm cylinders)
Wood pieces: traditional firewood for stoves and fireplaces (max. length 50 cm)

Devices for exploiting wood for energy vary depending on the type of use:

traditional stoves or fireplaces can be used when the sole aim is heating spaces for small-scale users; these devices now use high-performance technology that allows the maximum exploitation of the fuel’s energy. These devices can use wood pieces or pellets, and sometimes have automatic ignition systems
actual boilers with exchangers that supply radiator circuits exactly like normal gas boilers exist for the heating of spaces and water in entire small or mid-sized buildings. Depending on the size and technology of the system, all forms of wood fuel can be used
for the heating of large buildings or actual district heating networks, more complex and larger boilers with a fixed or moving grate can be used
larger plants can simultaneously produce heat and electrical energy (producing steam which powers turbines). In these cases the direct use of solid woody biomass or gasification or pyrolysis systems can be evaluated