A self-sufficient system ("Energy Island") fed only with bio-oil from local crops

The paper summarizes a project for an experimental energy system to be developed as a strategic measure to enhance global competitiveness of the Industrial Development Area (ASI) of Aragona - Favara in Agrigento Province. The aim of the project is to achieve a self-sufficient system (“Energy Island”) fed only with bio-oil from local crops. Planned duration of the experiment is four years, and the final goal is to establish new and profitable enterprises taking advantage from a cost-effective and sustainable energy supply chain: planned activities, in fact, involve farming and oil production ventures as well as the energy intensive food industries already settled in the area. Industrial-scale benefits will be achieved by expanding experimental plants, in line with the original concept, once satisfactory profitability has been demonstrated on small scale. Strategic principles of the project, in particular the “short supply chain” concept, are illustrated first. The Industrial Development Area of Aragona- Favara is then examined as to its energy demand, which should be met by renewable energy. The supply side is subsequently analyzed, focusing on how a short supply chain for oleaginous crops (sunflower and rapeseed) could be structured by appointing some set-aside agricultural areas to industrial crops. Incentives and national legislation on renewable energy are presented to outline market opportunities for energy and for produced biofuel once the experimental phase is concluded. Technical details of the project are then given, with process description and an account of how the experimental plants have been sized, deriving energy and mass flow balances and estimating avoided GHG emissions within the experimental timeframe. Agronomic and energy conversion activities related to construction and operation of the experimental systems are illustrated and future developments and strategic implications are outlined. The project has been conceived by the CIFRA - Interdepartment Center for Environmental Research and Education of Udine University - on behalf and with the cooperation of the Unione Industriali - Agrigento.