Rizziconi's power station is a combined cycle plant, utilising both a gas turbine and a steam turbine. The hot gases generated from the combustion of natural gas inside the gas turbine produce high-pressure steam to feed the steam turbine. Our choice was motivated by the advantages of combined cycle technology, which is generally considered the most efficient on the market. These are: • low environmental impact • decrease in fuel used • higher energy efficiency (56%) • cost reduction • lower greenhouse gas emissions
We concluded that the plain of Gioia Tauro, was the most suitable site for the construction of our plant. In fact, it is close to the electricity and gas grids and did not require connection works. The presence of the plant in this area also facilitates the economic development of the territory, ensuring energy at more competitive prices.
The plant comprises two distinct units of 380 MW each, for a total of 760 MW. This reduces costs and minimises environmental impact.
The power station is designed to operate exclusively on natural gas. This choice is in line with Rizziconi's commitment to contain environmental impact: gas is the least polluting fossil fuel and entails considerably lower emissions of sulphur and dust.
The plant's primary pollution source are the combustion fumes released into the atmosphere by two 50-metre chimneys equipped with monitoring stations to quantify emissions. The only harmful pollutants are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO), with emissions that are lower than 30mg/Nm3 for NOx and 24 mg/Nm3 for CO, i.e. within the limits set by European Law and the Ministry of Health. Compliance with the above limits is ensured by the functioning of modern gas turbines, now equipped with dry-cooling technology.
There is a minimal likelihood of pollutants being present in the ground, given the height of the chimneys (50 metres) and the 100°C temperature of the fumes. These factors ensure the fumes' dispersion into the atmosphere in all weather conditions. In any case, estimated values of NOx concentration are equal to less than half the legal limits imposed by European Law.
Pollution values are monitored 24 hours a day. All data is collected in a central computer and submitted to the Campania Regional Environmental Protection Agency, which makes it available for viewing.
No. The station's functioning has no impact on weather conditions, not even in the immediate surroundings of the plant. That's because the plant's cooling mechanism was designed to be air-based, preventing any significant quantities of steam from being released into the atmosphere. Air temperature variation in proximity of the plant does not exceed 0.1° C.
The water withdrawal is considerably reduced thanks to the Zero Liquid Discharge system that treats all discharges to allow the recovery and reuse of water within the production cycle; the system also includes a tank for the recovery of rainwater.
Authorization procedures involve several assessment phases. The project's environmental compatibility is evaluated through an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The results are processed by the EIA Commission (composed of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and the regional government) and made public. Once a decree of environmental compatibility is issued, the next phase of the authorization process commences. It consists of a series of conferences attended by the Ministries of: • Productive Activities • Environment • Culture • Health • Communication as well as: • Regional authorities • The Province and municipalities involved • The River authorities • The NTG operator A number of requirements, included in the authorization decree, serve as mandatory conditions for the operation of the plant.
A commission composed of the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Health and the National Research Council has disproved the claims of two NRC researchers, which were based on an assumption error on data extracted from an American study. A document issued by the Ministerial Commission proved that fine dust (PM10) emissions were negligible for a power plant of this type.
No. The plant's emission level is well below the limits set by Italian law, as it operates in compliance with European regulations relating to health and environment protection.
No. Effects on the soil are below the limits set by EU regulations for environmental protection. Even from the perspective of microclimate, the plant does not produce any appreciable changes in soil or crops.
The Rizziconi plant project has been subject to many inspections and approvals by: • Local Authorities (municipal, provincial and regional) • Ministries (Environment; Productive Activities, Culture, Health) • the National Institute of Health Among other analyses, a commission of experts appointed by the Ministry of the Environment conducted an Environmental Impact Assessment that yielded positive results with regards to environmental and public health protection. In addition to this, a 24-hour monitoring system was installed to measure emissions from the plant's chimneys, guaranteeing full compliance with legal environmental limits. Rizziconi also installed a control unit to measure the concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere.
