This investment of around 25 million euros is prompted not only by the positive impact that it will have on the productivity of the plant and the expected environmental benefits, but also by the prospect of extending its current range of products.
The refurbishment including design improvements will significantly boost the plant's capacity and reduce its energy consumption, with a corresponding positive impact on its yield and product quality. The reduced energy consumption will also mean a large reduction in atmospheric emissions, with 50% less CO (carbon monoxide) , 14% less CO2 (carbon dioxide) and 30% less NOx (nitrogen oxides).
This improved environmental performance in turn will make the plant eligible for the energy certification system operated by the Italian government, with subsidies granted over a period of five years in proportion to the energy savings achieved.
Together with the future gains expected from the cogeneration project1, these developments will significantly boost the competitiveness of the Cuneo plant.
1: Joint venture “Wedge Power” between AGC (10%) and High Power (90%) to build and operate a cogeneration unit (combined generation of heat and electricity) on AGC's Cuneo site. The gas turbine units will produce electricity equivalent to supply the needs of 20,000 homes and enough hot water to heat some 400 homes. Together with the plant's own electricity output from a heat recovery system, the electricity purchased from the joint venture by AGC at preferential rates will cover all the plant's electricity needs.