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.