What is claimed to be the most advanced power plant in the world in its class was officially opened on 30 July by Italy's minister for economic development Claudio Scajola. He was presiding at an inauguration ceremony also attended by the under-secretary to the Presidency of the Council Gianni Letta, the president of Lazio Region Piero Marrazzo, and Enel’s chairman Piero Gnudi and CEO Fulvio Conti.
"The Torrevaldaliga Nord power plant”, said Mr Conti, “makes a major contribution to diversifying the national energy mix and to the security of supply, to reducing emissions and to enhancing the competitiveness of Italy’s electricity system, in line with the European energy policy ".
The refurbished plant will meet 50% of electricity demand in Lazio, equal to about 4% of domestic consumption. Employing the most advanced technologies available, the plant (which should be fully operational in 2009) is expected to be the most efficient in its class and will significantly reduce environmental impact compared with the oil-fired plant it replaces. Emissions will be greatly reduced - nitrogen oxides by 61%, particulates and sulphur dioxide by 88% - and, because of this, emissions will be 50% below the stringent levels set by European Union health and environmental legislation. Furthermore, the systems for coal transport and handling are completely sealed, meaning the fuel never comes in contact with the open air. Carbon emissions from the new plant will be 18 per cent lower than the old plant, and 30 per cent lower than conventional coal-fired power plants, says Enel.
Enel has invested EUR2 billion in the refurbishment project, which will help Italy to reduce its dependency on oil. The country currently has the highest rate of oil and gas dependency in the industrialised world. The 1980 MW plant is composed of three units, one fewer than the previous plant on the site.
Enel is working on developing CO2 capture and sequestration through a number of what are described as cutting-edge projects. The goal of these projects, which are considered by the European Commission to be among the most interesting ones in this area, is “zero-emission” fossil fuel power generation. Through CO2 capture and sequestration technologies flue gas will be captured at the stack and stored safely, in deep aquifers or in exhausted methane or oil fields. Although the shift towards the use of coal in Italy has drawn criticism from environmentalists, Enel is planning a second 2000 MW conversion from oil to coal at Porto Tolle outside Venice.
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