Igor and Cefla bet on Energy hub for cogeneration
10 million investment in the Gorgonzola production plant in Cameri with fuel cell technology
Three cogeneration plants, with a 10 million investment, built by Cefla for IGOR, the company that produces Gorgonzola cheese in the Novara area. The Energy Hub commissioned by the dairy company envisages the construction and management of three cogeneration plants, two with Fuel Cells according to Cefla's NOVA SOLUTION technology and one with an endothermic engine, to cover about 40% of the electricity and 20% of the thermal needs of the Cameri production site.
The first two plants in particular are intended for the production of high-efficiency electricity and heat without emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere. "Cefla's project, which is the first step of a long-term collaboration between the two companies, was developed after an energy analysis of the IGOR plant in Cameri and defines an optimal configuration of energy sources to reduce production costs, as well as to support the sustainability goals of the dairy company," underlines a note. Thanks also to the valorisation of the by-products of in-plant processing.
The project involves the conversion of the power station from steam to hot water to increase the efficiency of generation and optimise heat recovery from the two existing motorised cogeneration plants and from the newly built one. The project plans to centralise the thermal production in a single Energy Hub, with a distribution network of hot water integrated both in the current plant and in the new industrial spaces that IGOR is creating
In particular, the two NOVA SOLUTION by Cefla Fuel Cell cogeneration plants include a first 650 kWe plant, fuelled by biomethane, which will be integrated within the Energy Hub serving the production plant, and a second 750 kWe plant, fuelled by biogas, which will be used as a power and heat generation system serving the biomethane production plant.
"Through the Energy Hub approach, a crucial synergy is created between the existing infrastructure and the new solutions, ensuring efficiency both for the current plant and in view of future expansions," emphasises Fabio Leonardi, CEO of IGOR Gorgonzola. "For Cefla, it is important to generate real value by combining environmental sustainability and innovative competitiveness," emphasises President Gianmaria Balducci.
