Annual Report 2012 EUROPE BELGIUM BULGARIA ... - Duferco

Duferco Engineering
The drastic reductions of investment in the
steel sector and the limited incentives to
support solar projects have fundamentally
altered the framework within which
Duferco Engineering earlier operated to
implement the projects approved by the
shareholders of Duferco. Nevertheless,
the company was able to carry out
the successful implementation and
commissioning of photovoltaic systems
which were already approved and which
had obtained recognition rates from
GSE in the Conto Energia IV. In the Mini
Hydro sector, Duferco confirmed the
strategy of its plans for the construction
of new facilities and the acquisition of
new concessions. It has consolidated
its commitment to the management and
maintenance of photovoltaic systems, as
well as small hydro power plants
(O & M) by adding to the facilities already
in operation, which includes those that
have been started up in this fiscal year.
The curtailment in EPCM captive jobs
led to a reduction in human resources.
Attention was then concentrated on the
openings in the free market, focusing
mainly on the "power plants" in developing
countries and on the "efficiency and
energy-saving" to be applied to industry,
in public and private residential projects,
transport and agriculture. The title "ESCo"
(Energy Service Co. which has taken
upon itself the responsibility of the risks
inherent in the project, thereby freeing the
client from any onerous organisational
effort and investment), the decrees of the
"Conto Energia" (PV and renewable), the
"Conto Termico", the "Certificati Bianchi"
and tax reduction, combined together,
have promoted and supported efficiency
and energy-saving projects that are able
to ensure a fair return on investment even
if recovery is slow. The financial outlay
thus involved has been able to serve these
initiatives effectively.
Efficiency in energy-saving is an area that
offers a huge opportunity. In fact, based
on the "20-20-20" targets set by the
Kyoto Treaty (Year 2020: 20% of energy
from renewable sources and 20% energy
savings), we can count in every year,
from year 2020, a saving of around € 18
billion. It is up to us to mobilize the means
needed to introduce this extraordinary
initiative that, in addition to the direct
benefit of reducing dependence on fossil
fuels, compels one to stimulate innovation,
research and development in universities
and research centres and especially to
bring skilled labour to businesses and to
stimulate employment.
Duferco Engineering has accepted this
challenge and it is preparing, as ESCo, to
promote savings and energy efficiency in
its public and private sector projects.
In line with these initiatives, Duferco
Engineering is carrying out a research and
development programme entitled "Green
Energy Island - Stand-alone hybrid system
for generation and storage of renewable
energy" in order to establish in container
plants the production of energy from
renewable sources, systems for energy
storage and, above all, an intelligent
system (smart grid) which combines realtime
availability of renewable sources with
the demand for storage of energy.
Multi-fuel coogenerator, part of the
prototype under construction
52 | Duferco Annual Report 2012