Per I Compiti Che L ARPAT Potrebbe Essere Chiamata a Svolgere: Ad Esempio EMAS Ed ECOLABEL

ARPAT between energy production and environmental impact

Mr. Domenico D’Amico(*), Engineer

The legal framework of Environmental Agencies, engaged as technical bodies in controlling the environment, has been recently widened by several legislative provisions implementing a number of European Directives which provide for a notable increase in public responsibilities; this is the case especially with respect to the survey and processing of data on environmental resources and their use – typically energy resources – as well as to the corresponding planning of reclamation and improvement strategies designed to attain quality goals.

There have arisen new responsibilities also with respect to the traditional administrative functions of authorization and control: on the one hand, in fact, the authorizing stage has been enriched with Public Administrative Bodies’ new prescription and intervention powers; on the other hand, the control stage, other than serving an inspection purpose, has been given greater value as an essential source of information on environmental resources and on the causes of pollution, which is to be organized and operate periodically, extensively, effectively and impartially. Therefore, the need for technical and preliminary support and for an adequate collaboration between active administrative bodies (Regions and local Bodies) and Regional Environmental Agencies has increased.

Many international protocols and government decrees have been enacted in the field (European and national directives, international agreements, scientific publications, etc.), taking up an important social challenge: to harmonize economic development, the use of resources (energy and raw goods) and environmental protection, in a sustainable way.

There arises a specific role for Environmental Agencies, both with respect to the activities laid down by the law setting them up – :” guidelines for interventions connected with the need to protect the environment “- and to their tasks aimed at …” ensuring harmonization between development policies and the protection of environmental quality in energy production” ( see art.12 Reg. Law 45/97 ), which shall have to be focused in the future on the way energy is produced, guaranteeing the protection of the environment, ensuring sustainable development and respecting the aims set by the Kyoto Protocol.

In this context, technological innovations and renewable resources play a key role in defining energy-environmental policies and, in particular, in reducing polluting emissions on a local and global scale. This concept has also been underlined by the White Book for a European strategy (edited by the European Commission), which requires the contribution of renewable energy sources to be doubled by 2010 (going from the current 6% to 12%) through a programme of specifically aimed activities structured as an action plan.

ARPAT’s Mission

Implementation of national and regional laws, with respect to the Regional Energy Plan, whilst awaiting approval of PIER (Regional Energy Policy Plan) provided by the Reg. Law 39/05 on:

renewable energy resources

multiple uses of geothermics

saving and rationally using energy

energy production and environmental compatibility

ARPAT guarantees

technical support to all Competent Bodies - (Tuscan Municipalities with a population exceeding 40.000 people, and Provinces of smaller Municipalities) - on the planning, installation, use and control of thermal plants in the civil ambit;

The legal framework and competences involved hinge on the consideration that failure to control thermal plants in the civil ambit may lead to:

potentially serious safety hazards
the use of low-efficiency fuel and following energy waste
harmful effects on individuals’ health
excessive polluting emissions damaging air quality

ARPAT - role and tasks

The Tuscan Region, by Decision 13.07.1999, no.787, has identified ARPAT as

“the Body which, in the light of its technical and proven expertise, has been officially recognized by the Region as a structure which offers training, information and guidance on the obligations laid down by the Pres. Decree 412/93 and following amendments, and which issues professional certificates of technical approval; Local Organizations may rely on ARPAT both for training and information purposes and for planning checks and controls of thermal plants“.

ARPAT supports Provinces for preliminary inquiries concerning required authorizations for emissions into the atmosphere.

It also carries out several functions regarding:

training initiatives, the granting of professional certificates of technical approval to public and/or private entities, guidance on the obligations laid down by law with respect to the planning of checks and controls of thermal plants in the civil ambit;
obligations connected with the control of energy production plants in the production field;
technical-scientific support to competent bodies in issuing research and exploration authorizations, as well as permits to cultivate and use geothermal fluids for electric and multiple purposes;
assistance with respect to energy-related issues arising from the implementation of European Regulations no. 1836/93/CEE “ EMAS “, no. 880/92/CEE “ ECOLABEL “ and ISO 14000.

The The increasing awareness of the harmful effects of environmental pollution on a local and global scale has fostered the public debate on the matter and has prompted governments and international organizations to define policies addressing the following issues:

the sustainable use of natural resources (their ecologically-correct production and use),
the protection of human health, of the environment and of cultural heritage.

In particular, energy systems are highly responsible for the release of polluting emissions in the atmosphere (about 80% of greenhouse gases); environmental protection calls for a structural reorganization aimed at reducing energy consumption levels and the impact of conversion technologies.

It is thus necessary to promote strategies affecting both energy intensity (the quantity of energy consumed per economic activity) and the mix of fossil and renewable fuels used both in production and by final consumers. This is especially important in the case of carbon dioxide emissions: their global stabilization and reduction calls for a notable reduction of energy intensity levels.

In general, the reduction of polluting emissions may be attained through a wide range of national/global measures (as it happens with the reduction of the effects of climate changes) or very specific local measures (e.g. the respect of emission limits in a given industrial area). Other than the obvious legal instruments (limits on polluting emissions, regulated supply of energy), political measures may include economic interventions (taxes on polluting fuels (such as carbon tax), contributions as to interests and capital for the use of innovative technologies), the promotion of technological research and development (funding RTD programmes developing “clean” technologies, promoting programmes for energy efficiency, etc.), and voluntary measures (EMAS procedures).

Given the current scenarios as to the effects of the emission of combustion products in production cycles (especially in the production of energy), which are faced by Authorities on both a local and global level, an initial analysis of the cognitive framework may be attempted in the light of the specific political choice of placing demand at the centre of the energy market.

One of ARPAT’s roles is to take care of the tasks to be performed during the technical inquiry connected with the Environmental Impact Evaluation of works regarding power plants, both in their production and distribution stages, with special attention to plants relying on traditional fuels and renewable sources.

Upon mandate of the Tuscan Region, ARPAT may be involved in the future in performing operating reference functions both with respect to the above issues and to:

Power certifications of Buildings, pursuant to the recent European Directives on Energy Efficiency,
Procedures for the grant of green Certificates and Emission Rights of CO2.

ARPAT’s role in Geothermics in Tuscany

As early as in 1997, the Agency was appointed by the Region to evaluate the environmental impact of geothermal energy in the areas where said resource was used. More specifically, the Agency was contacted to evaluate a study commissioned to Tuscan Universities by ENEL, which focused on the impact of said resource on different environmental factors, in a view to develop the exploitation of geothermal resources after the 1996 moratorium. Since completion of said task, the Agency has been involved by the Region in monitoring different environmental factors in the Amiatina area, including the food system, with respect to the use of such an exclusively Tuscan and renewable energy resource, which is thus strategic for the Regional Energy Plan and for the Region’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions, which are largely responsible for climate changes.

In carrying out its studies on the quality of the air in geothermal areas, Arpat has relied on the International Health Organization’s criteria to evaluate exposure levels.

The use of geothermal resources has a number of environmental consequences, such as a modest reduction of land and vegetation for the creation of areas to be used for wells and plants; the landscape is changed as a result, above all, of the number of vapor ducts and of the presence itself of wells and plants.

The environmental impact of geothermal power, although deemed negligible until the 1960’s, has long been object of in-depth and continuous studies. Although endogeneous resources with low enthalpy, used for the production of electric power, contain polluting components, they have an environmental impact which is lower than that of traditional thermoelectric plants.

The negative environmental impact caused by the use of a geothermal field hinges on the kind of field in question, on the way in which it is used, on the geological and morphological characteristics of the area as well as on all relevant local meteo-climatic conditions (especially in terms of wind direction and intensity).

Said activity has an impact on different environmental factors which eventually affects living organisms and is due to the increased concentration of elements and components, even of a toxicological nature. Although the origin of said polluting agents and components is completely "natural", the creation of a geothermal field accelerates the surfacing of fluids whose mass flows are far greater than those naturally detectable.

Geothermal fluids, in fact, are always associated with non-condensable gases which, after being used in the plant, are released into the atmosphere. Non-condensable gases, essentially made of Carbon bioxide (CO2: 85,4%) and sulphydric acid (H2S: range 1-2%), Methane (CH4: 0,4%) and Hydrogen (H2: 0,1%), are directly released into the atmosphere together with a small percentage of elements, such as Mercury (Hg) and Radon (Rn), with more or less intense toxicity. The corresponding and eventual impact on the health of individuals exposed thereto depends on the concentration of said polluting agents and on exposure levels.

It is commonly agreed that the environmental impact of atmospheric pollution caused by non-condensable pollutants emitted by geothermoelectric plants (Hg, H2S and NH3) extends for some kilometres – and, in the case of Mercury, it is subject to a complex vehiculation process – whereas the impact associated with the drift fallout (and thus with the pollutants contained in it) extends for some hundred metres in the area surrounding the plants and/or few meters around the wells.

(*)

Mr. Domenico D’Amico, Engineer

ARPAT Energy Manager

Technical Management –Technological Innovation, Development and Environmental Research

Tel: 0553206303 – 0583958729

Cell phone: 3337732942