CHAMOIS

Feasibility study of the penetration in Aosta Valley of sustainable energy systems based on the integration of renewables and hydrogen  

year: 2004
Research contract between Energy Department and Compagnia Valdostana delle Acque S.p.A.

A two levels study was proposed:

In the first level, the possible solutions to facilitate the penetration of the proposed innovations in a limited territory were assessed. The territory was that of Chamois community, a small municipality chosen for its representativeness.

In the second level the potential impact of the some of the new chosen technologies on the whole Valley territory was analysed.

The study was complemented with a deepening on the educational and cultural growth opportunities in the territory.

The LAME research group worked mainly on the second level proposing the substitution of the present diesel based buses, with ICE buses fuelled with hydrogen. The buses were selected among those servicing some of the most important passenger transportation lines along the secondary valleys of the region. The performances in terms of number of stops, rides and general service were kept unchanged after the powertrain substitution. The focus of this study was on the techno-economic analysis rather than on the design of the plants details. Besides, the study was completed with a feasibility study regarding the siting of the infrastructures necessary to operate the new technologies.

The group analysed also the possibility of using hydrogen to satisfy the winter heat demand in some houses of the Chamois community, either with the adoption of conventional boilers or installing micro-CHP units (with electricity recovery). Also in this part of the study, comparative techno-economic assessments were performed.
Finally, the group analysed the possibility to realise a Technological Park taking the opportunity given by the Industrial Park already sited in the former Cogne area in Aosta, and as already experienced in other similar sites in Italy.

National Projects