Italian Residential Buildings: Economic Assessments for Biomass Boilers Plants

Maurizio Carlini,Elena Allegrini,Ming Li,Silvia Cocchi,Sonia Castellucci

doi:10.1155/2013/823851

Maurizio Carlini, Elena Allegrini + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/823851

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Abstract

Biomass is increasingly used for energy generation since it represents a useful alternative to fossil fuel in order to face the pollutions and the global warming problem. It can be exploited for heating purposes and for supplying domestic hot water. The most common applications encompass wood and pellet boilers. The economic aspect is becoming an important issue in order to achieve the ambitious targets set by the European Directives on Renewable Sources. Thus, the present paper deals with the economic feasibility of biomass boiler plants with specific regard to an existing residential building. An Italian case study is further investigated, focusing the attention on European and national regulations on energy efficiency and considering the recent public incentives and supporting measures. The main thermoclimatic parameters—that is, heating degree days (HDDs), building thermal insulation and thermal needs—are taken into account. Moreover, the following economic indicators are calculated: cumulative cash flow, discounted cumulative cash flow, payback period (PP), net present value (NPV), Internal rate of return (IRR), discounted payback period (DPP), and profit index (PI).

Highlights

The biomass represents a good solution for renewable energy sources (RES) developing since it is widespread in many different areas; it encompasses all organic matter of vegetable or animal origin
The cycle from biomass and fossil fuel to energy can be shortly represented as follows: biomass consumes CO2 through photosynthesis, which is the process used by plants and other organisms to capture sun’s energy, and the solar energy is stored in the chemical bonds of their structural components; when this energy is extracted, CO2 becomes available to produce new biomass; the process is cyclical
Two analyses have been carried out in order to assess the economical feasibility of biomass boiler plants in standard Italian residential buildings located in Viterbo

Summary

Introduction

The European Directive 2009/28/EC— well known as “Directive 20-20-20”—set many climate and energy targets in order to achieve and ensure a clean and sustainable living for the future generations: reduction of greenhouse gases emissions by 20%, energy production from renewable sources in percentage of 20%, and improvement of the energy efficiency by 20% in order to reduce the energy consumption [3, 4] In this context, the biomass represents a good solution for RES developing since it is widespread in many different areas; it encompasses all organic matter of vegetable or animal origin.

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