EP Produzione, Italy (fossil fired power)

BIOFIT Case Study: biomass conversion of a coal-fired power plant of EP Produzione in Italy

With the assistance of project partner CERTH, the Italian utility EP Produzione will investigate the biomass conversion of a hard coal-fired power unit (320 MWe) at the Fiume Santo power plant in Sardinia, Italy.

Biomass conversion projects at utility-scale coal boilers have already been implemented successfully in some other European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, United Kingdom). Wood pellets are typically the main fuel used in such plants: they have favorable fuel properties to enable the conversion and they can be supplied in appropriate volumes and qualities as a biomass commodity fuel through international supply chains. In Fiume Santo’s case, it is envisaged that smaller quantities of locally available wood chips will also be used alongside the wood pellets.

The successful implementation of the project will allow EP Produzione to utilize one of its productive assets after the Italian coal-phase out of 2025, while also supporting the stability of the Sardinian grid through the provision of renewable, dispatchable thermal generation and avoiding negative social implications (job losses) in the local area that would result from the complete closure of the power plant.