Maybe all is not lost. Maybe the wood burned for weeks on Piemonte Alps can be recovered again. The cooperative La Foresta will verify if its producing and purpose won’t be dangerous for health. Since its birth, in 1995, it deals with ”mountain land’s maintenance, both forests and infrastructures (roads, water mains, etc)”, explains to Canale Energia the owner Giorgio Talachini.
The cooperative always pointed to create “working conditions better than the ones offered by market”, continues Talachini. After the financial crisis they “tried to keep the forest resources’ added value, obtaining skills on installation and maintenance of plants fostered with forest fuel”, not to lose economical-social advantages of wood resource.
The cooperative model has been an instrument to promote sustainable development: “We do not undermine forestry capital – wants to underline Talachini – but we collect what may yearly regrow. We use the wood for noble use or then to produce thermal energy”. After 20 years La Foresta obtained PEFC certification both for forest activities and plant design “becoming a partner for any project having the target of producing heat”.
Until now the company owns several power stations in Val di Susa – for example at San Giorio, Almese, Oulx and Mattie – and in the other Piedmont valleys. In 2012 La Foresta received a proposal from the local PA to valorize the about 3.000 hectares of abandoned forest. The 200 KWt’ power station today heats all the public buildings (school, kindergarten, town hall, post office) and it works with woodchips produced only with trunks: “This allows us to reduce the bark’s amount and power station’s emission values”. With economical saving, compared to natural gas’ consumption, and “an about 80% CO2 reduction compared to emissions registered with diesel”. From the wood’ cut to wood chips’ production the company boasts the 0 km.
“It’s unthinkable for a town small like us to have a person taking care only about energy consumption of the town halls – explained us Mattie’s Mayor Francesca Vernetto – That’s why we need to have a direct contact with companies working in the territory”.
A modular small plant installed in Oulx feeds both the Val di Susa forest Consortium’ headquarter and the dryer for woods “to reduce energy consumption in manufacturing of small wood’s orders”, goes on Talachini. The system replaced the gas consumption and reduced CO2 emissions by 70-80%, considering diesel used during the production’ phase.
La Foresta underline the profitable cooperation with research world: technological innovation helps powders reduction in smokes dumping. Looking to future projects the cooperative will be engaged on a realization of an almost zero energy building at Oulx.
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