South Tyrol: The way to being independent from fossil fuels

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano

Energy independency by renewable energy in 2020

The Government of South Tyrol - the autonomous province of Bozen/Bolzano in the very north of Italy on the Southern part of the Alps - is using local sustainable development to promote the region as an attractive area for economic activities based on energy and ecological issues. It is creating a stimulating and favourable environment for technological, but also institutional and educational, innovation and particularly for future-oriented energy solutions and strategies.

Strategies

The growing demand for energy represents a challenge for us all. The three focal points are energy saving and reducing energy loss; increasing energy efficiency and the substitution of remaining demand with renewable energy.

South Tyrol has been investing in hydropower, solar energy, geothermal energy, biomass and biogas for many years and encourages energy-saving programmes and improving energy consumption efficiency. Ready to introduce a new era, the government is preparing a breakthrough in hydrogen technology, in its production from renewable energy sources and in concrete applications.

Energy consumption in 2006 broke down into 29% of electrical and 71% of caloric energy covered by:

	786 hydropower plants generating 5.500 GWh of electricity (40% autoconsumption, 60% export);
	34 tele-heating plants based on local biomass producing 363.000 MWh;
	30 biogas plants located in rural areas producing 10.000 MWh; and,
	150.000 m2 of solar panels (over 30% of total surface in Italy)

The Future: 100% renewable energy in 2020

To fight climate change, we must produce the smallest volume of greenhouse gases possible while meeting our energy needs. The ambitious dream of South Tyrol’s climate change and energy agenda is to satisfy its entire energy consumption with renewable energies by 2020.

But the road to energy independency is strict. There have to be clear and understandable political strategies for the whole province and deadlines because the different steps must be defined. This includes clear directives and financial contribution for energy-saving initiatives in private and public buildings and programmes to improve energy efficiency technically. There must be a political definition of objectives and a timetable to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Citizens, trade and industry need to be integrated in the initiative from the beginning and the final result should be a win-win situation for both humans and the environment: The independency from fossil fuels necessitates a complete security of energy supply and strong contribution to international climate protection. The following items will be the focus of South Tyrol’s energy policy in the next years:

	Extension of hydropower, biomass / tele-heating and biogas plants;
	Substitution of oil-based heating systems;
	KlimaHaus as the obligatory standard in construction of new and renovation of old buildings;
	Trading of CO2 emissions;
	New incinerating plant producing electric energy (68.500 MWh) for hydrogen production and thermal energy (95.000 MWh) for district heating of Bolzano town;
	Responding to the growing demand of photovoltaic panels;
	Starting local production of SI-cells;
	Introducing solar-cooling systems;
	Increasing use of geothermal energy;
	Promoting wind power where sufficient wind intensity;
	Using hydrogen power only from renewable energies in stationary and mobile plants; and,
	Optimising the use of energy mix according to individual needs

South Tyrol is putting realistic efforts to reach fossil fuel independency. It is improving the use and the substitution of renewable energies and implementing political directives to achieve solutions to reduce energy need and loss. Technologies to increase energy efficiency are being sought and renewable energy is being presented as a challenge for research, innovation and for local business.

And, furthermore, it is preparing the right kind of conditions to produce hydrogen energy on a large scale, including its use for alpine huts, backup-systems, signal techniques, fuel stations and public transportation.

Particular agencies can and are helping. Research on renewable energies and their concrete applications is the basis. Networking/Clustering for information and technological transfer will give a boost to renewable energies.

There is investment in research and development and technologies such as KlimaHaus, solar cooling, photovoltaic, hydrogen. Innovation and lighthouse projects are being promoted and there are economic incentives for energy saving projects and new constructions.

In parallel, the administration has to be efficient. The government is working towards costless consultations and a minimised bureaucracy. In keeping with the other responsibilities South Tyrol is also aiming for education for sustainability in energy policy starting in primary school.

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Financing the commitment

Project public financing: starting with 50%, reducing the public contribution to 30% and later to 15% and less, as the initiative reaches a balance.

Although committing substantially, South Tyrol favours public-private partnership and is looking for partners in Europe - European co-financed projects. But it is also looking for private investors and is preparing the basis for private initiatives by creating public and private funds aimed at research and innovation.

E-mail: umweltagentur@provinz.bz.it Web: www.provinz.bz.it