CTO Assessment - European Commission

VARESE LIGURE
Agricultural conversion
and 100% RES
Contact: Roberta Casapietra • Agenzia Regionale per l’Energia della Liguria
ARE Liguria Spa • Via Peschiera 16 • 16122 Genova •Italy
Tel: +39 010 8403343 • Email: are.promo@filse.it
The Comune di Varese Ligure is a community
on its way for 100% RES and 100% organic
farming. Specifically in the RES sector, wind
turbines were installed, 80% of the farms have
become organic, PV systems were installed in
2 public buildings. Beside this, a program to
promote pellets stoves will be launched.
The peculiarity of this municipality of over
2,400 inhabitants, is that it is huge compared
with its density. There are many little centres,
but no strong link among them. The renovation
facilitated the reactivation of the two main
centres and to preserve the cultural heritage.
Main aims and motivations
10 years ago, Varese Ligure was in a difficult
economic situation, as the population tended
to move to other places where there were more
job opportunities, and the city was disconnected
in-between the different areas. The
mayor decided then to revitalize the municipality
while integrating some sustainable development
priorities.
Wind
Photovoltaics
The wind
turbines
Photovoltaic
Key facts of the project
The Project
The activities are manifold, main emphasis
being put on clean energy and organic agriculture.
The renovation of old buildings started in
1991.
A marketing campaign was launched to
present the 100% organic farming in 1997.
Varese Ligure also was the first Italian
municipality to receive the ISO 14001 certification
(Oct. 1999) and was the first
European EMAS registered municipality
(Nov. 1999).
A wind farm was installed (2000) and PV
collectors (2003).
Promotion of pellets boilers (pre-feasibility
study, the plan being to create a local industry).
The municipality participated in a LIFE
project for environmental accounting and
reporting (started in around 2001).
2 wind generators (4 million kW/h) have been installed and a
further 2 generators (2 million kW/h) are planned.
One installation on the municipal building made up of 102
panels (120 Wp each) which occupy 94.76 square metres and
has a power of 12.24 kWp. This installation produced 12,701
kWh/year and covers 98% of the needs of the building.
Another PV installation in a school is made up of 39 panels
(120 Wp each) which occupy 36.23 square metres and has a
power of 4.68 kWp. This installation produces 4,600 kWh/ year
and covers 62% of the needs of the building.
CO 2
emission:
Saves 8,000 tons of CO 2
. It also saves 3,000 tons of coal,
1,800 tons of oil and 1,100 tons of natural gas.
Savings in CO 2
emissions equal to 9,600 Kg/year.
The total amount of CO 2
saved through the Varese Ligure initiatives is:
0.05% of total CO 2
regional annual emissions.
130 jobs
permanently
created
Tourism
Cheese and breeder cooperative, maintenance of the wind
turbines, staff employed in the environmental management
system (ISO and EMAS).
Three times more tourist visits than earlier (rural, cultural and
food tourism).
Overall Evaluation
The village overall development strategy including
the urban restoration of public buildings
and the agricultural conversion towards
organic farming attracts tourism up to 3 times
more than before. Organic farming is a key
aspect economically (production and tourism),
environmentally (resources and energy saving,
nature conservation) and energetically
(farms are self-sufficient – less fuel consuming).
The integration of RES includes the installation
of 2 wind generators (4 million kW/h), 2
other are planned (2 million kW/h), PV collectors
have been installed on the top of the municipal
and school buildings.
The ISO 14001 and EMAS certifications
have been fundamental to demonstrate the
village’s environmental awareness and active
participation in reducing emissions.
Enabling factors
The government started to financially support
the programme. Hence, there were local, regional,
national and EU funds available to
cover a total of more than 8 million Euros of
funding for the different activities.
Replication Potential
The community having reached its 100%
green electricity target, feeds the excess of
electricity into the national network. There
has also been a regional energy plan developed,
supported by the regional energy agency,
to promote RES to the whole mountainous
area (7 municipalities), to which belongs the
Comune di Varese Ligure, to develop heating
by biomass.
Change in perception of implementing
RES projects
The population was included in the municipality’s
actions and participated in the EU
project for schools called FEE (Force
Energétique par les Enfants). The public
opinion is generally quite enthusiastic.
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