IT202100019952A1 - PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR URBAN, INDUSTRIAL AND SIMILAR AREAS - Google Patents

Description

Title: PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR URBAN, INDUSTRIAL AND SIMILAR AREAS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas. In recent years, climate change has been at the center of scientific and media attention due to the widespread increase, in every part of the planet, of extreme meteorological phenomena and the related economic, social and environmental damages that may accelerate in the future , in the absence of an inversion in the curve of greenhouse gas emissions. In urban areas, the impacts related to global warming are established in such a dimension as to determine often dramatic consequences, to which governments around the world are increasingly facing. urgently called to give an answer. The European Union, for example, has defined a strategy for adapting to climate change, which all member countries are called upon to follow. In many cities? new planning and intervention tools have been defined which focus on the theme of adaptation to climate change.

The main problems lie in climate change, in the loss of biodiversity? and in energy dependence on fossil fuels: these dangers require urban contexts to become sustainable and energetically autonomous.

Currently, for? the cities and urban settlements in general have high impacts of emissions, high consumption of water and natural resources and use energy from fossil fuels, often produced at very great distances. Main task of the present invention ? that of solving the problems set out above, proposing a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas that can be located near of an inhabited center to provide, at least partially, for the related energy needs. Within the scope of this task, a purpose of the invention is that of proposing a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas which does not cause consumption or deterioration of the water and natural resources of the installation area.

Another purpose of the invention? that of proposing a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas independent of fossil fuels.

Another purpose of the invention? that of proposing a system for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas which favors biodiversity.

Another purpose of the invention? that of proposing a system for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas that is easily and pleasantly usable by the inhabitants of the urban settlement where it is located? installed.

Another purpose of the present invention ? that of realizing a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas of contained costs, relatively simple in practice and safe to apply.

This task and these aims are achieved by a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas characterized in that it comprises

- at least one photovoltaic unit for converting the solar energy incident on at least one respective panel into electrical energy;

- at least one platform for the production of hydrogen, powered, even indirectly, by means of the electric energy produced by said at least one photovoltaic group;

- at least one area, contiguous to at least one component selected from said at least one platform for the production of hydrogen and said at least one photovoltaic group, cultivated with plants preferably selected from trees, bushes, shrubs and the like, for the conversion of carbon dioxide in oxygen.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas, illustrated by way of example and not in limitation, in the merged drawings, in which:

fig.1 is a schematic view of a possible embodiment of a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas, according to the invention;

fig.2 is a schematic view of a further embodiment of a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas, according to the invention.

With particular reference to these figures? globally indicated with 1 a plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas.

The plant 1 according to the invention comprises, in its embodiment more? simple, at least one photovoltaic group 2 for the conversion of solar energy incident on at least one respective panel 3 into electrical energy.

The plant 1 also comprises at least one platform 4 for the production of hydrogen, powered, also indirectly, by means of the electric energy produced by the at least one photovoltaic group 2. By indirect electric supply we mean a use of electric energy coming from groups of electric accumulators, or from energy coming from conversion sources initially powered by the photovoltaic group 2, how will it be? illustrated below. Furthermore, the plant 1, for its optimal balance of use of the available renewable sources, comprises at least one area 5, contiguous to at least one component chosen from among the at least one platform for the production of hydrogen 4 and the at least one group photovoltaic 2, cultivated with plants preferably selected from trees, bushes, shrubs and the like, for the conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen.

It is specified that this area 5 guarantees optimal results in terms of carbon dioxide withdrawal from the atmosphere and oxygen release if it is made up of trees, effectively becoming an artificial forest subservient to the other components of the plant. It is therefore a belt of the urban area A for the sequestration of carbon dioxide, the promotion of biodiversity: this area 5 can? conveniently be equipped with spaces with services for the community? and the improvement of the quality? of the life of citizens.

Area 5 (preferably made up of a forest) is spread over a surface that can also completely surround the other components of the plant 1 and extend the concept of energy park to a larger dimension? broad, innovative, and of interest to the community? and the context in which the whole system? inserted. The area 5 can? conveniently include not only green areas for the sequestration of carbon dioxide and for the protection of biodiversity, but also a wide range of public utility services? for citizens. Its size and location are an opportunity to increase sustainable urban services with a low environmental impact and encourage local activities. in the open air and in contact with nature. The presence of numerous cycle and pedestrian paths, to increase mobility? sustainability and the enhancement of environmental wealth, constitute its fundamental fabric and offer the citizen and the city (urban area A) a new type of ecological park. In practice, the plant 1 according to the invention combines services and technologies created for the city? and citizens and acts as a shield against climate change. Plant 1? made up of various elements intrinsically linked to supply zero kilometer renewable energy to the entire urban area. To which ? intended, until it becomes self-sufficient. The connective tissue of all elements of the plant ? environmental enhancement, which, among other purposes, has that of sequestering carbon dioxide, increasing the well-being of citizens.

Main objective of the plant 1 according to the invention ? provide a solution to the ever growing need? to "decarbonise" (ie achieve independence from fossil fuels) the energy supply chain and to counter the effects of climate change. The aim of the plant 1 according to the invention is to achieve the energy independence of the cities? through a modular and scalable solution, together with the improvement of the well-being of citizens through services aimed at increasing the quality? of the urban environment.

With particular reference to an embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the plant 1 according to the invention can advantageously comprising at least one device 6 for the production of biomethane fed by hydrogen, coming from the platform 4, and carbon dioxide.

It is specified that the biomethane dispensed by device 6 may conveniently be fed into the methane gas distribution network 7 of a predefined urban area A.

The production of biomethane through the device 6 will be able take place under anaerobic conditions in a liquid solution containing microorganisms that will act? as a biological catalyst. The process will be carried out stoichiometrically according to the following reaction equation:

CO2 + 4H2 ? CH4 + 2 H2O (DH<0 >= -253 kJ/mol)

Biological methanation is based on the activity of particular organisms, the archaea, capable of converting carbon dioxide and hydrogen into methane and water. This metabolic process, which takes place in a reactor under strictly anaerobic conditions, is called methanogenesis. Methane, as the final product of this biosynthesis, is closely related to the primary energy and metabolism of archaea. By setting favorable operating and environmental conditions inside the reactor, ? possible to obtain high conversion rates to methane. ? a slightly acidic to alkaline medium and a temperature between 55 and 70°C is preferred.

Hydrogen from electrolysis (coming from platform 4) and carbon dioxide are continuously supplied to device 6 at a pressure corresponding to atmospheric pressure. For the complete conversion of carbon dioxide, the ratio between hydrogen and carbon dioxide must be continuously regulated, and the reaction, by the microorganisms, occurs almost instantaneously, with a duration of the order of a few seconds.

Thanks to the presence of the device 6 ? It is possible to make an indirect connection of the electricity network to the platform 4 which obtains the hydrogen. In fact, in this specific configuration of the plant 1 according to the invention, the platform 4 also contributes to balancing the electricity grid and optimizes the use of renewable sources at times when there are misalignments between the demand and supply of energy.

The routine maintenance of area 5 (preferably made up of an artificial forest, as already illustrated above) will bring to a significant production of woody biomass (prunings) that could? be exploited for the production of biogas and biomethane, through a technological process of thermal pre-treatment (such as the so-called steam explosion) and a biological process of anaerobic digestion and an upgrading system (within device 5). The biomethane product can what? be fed into the gas distribution network 7 and partially supply the city's energy consumption.

Downstream of the anaerobic digestion process (of pruning) you will get? also a solid fraction (digestate) which, mixed with other organic matrices (for example sewage sludge), will constitute a valid soil improver to enrich the soil.

This material can be distributed on land where it is expected to build new portions of area 5 (or even new areas 5), thus ensuring? increased fertility? soil, a fixation of organic carbon to the soil, the accelerated development of plant species and therefore a greater speed? capture atmospheric CO2.

The connection of the electricity grid to the methane gas infrastructure (network 7), widely spread throughout the country, ? commonly referred to as ?sector coupling?, and ? made possible thanks to a technology called "power to gas". This technology provides for the conversion of hydrogen into synthetic methane (biomethane) using carbon dioxide in a biological process which takes place inside the device 6. Biomethane has characteristics that are completely identical to those of natural gas of fossil origin which allow it to be used? direct injection into the gas distribution network 7. The methane distribution network 7 can? also be used as a large storage of biomethane input, which potr? be recovered when needed.

It is highlighted that the plant 1 pu? include at least one fuel cell station 8, powered by methane gas, for the production of electricity: thanks to the station 8 ? a reuse of biomethane for energy purposes is envisaged.

The fuel cells of the station 8 will in fact be fed with gas (biomethane coming from the device 6 or from a storage tank in which the same is collected or with methane gas coming from the network 7 in which the biomethane coming from the device was previously introduced 5).

The at least one fuel cell station 8 will be able to favorably be associated with at least one storage stage of the carbon dioxide emitted by the fuel cells.

In this case, the at least one carbon dioxide storage stage will result? advantageously suitable for feeding the at least one device 6 for the production of biomethane: in the process of converting methane into electricity carbon dioxide is emitted which can be stored and recovered in a closed cycle in accordance with the "power to gas" technology.

The generation of electricity will be entrusted to the fuel cell station 8 in relation to their very low environmental impact (both in terms of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere and in terms of acoustic and/or mechanical-vibrational pollution). Fuel cells are electrochemical systems capable of converting the chemical energy of a fuel (generally hydrogen, methane or biomethane) directly into electrical energy, without the intermediate intervention of a thermal cycle, and consequently allow more efficient conversion efficiency. higher than those of conventional heat machines. Furthermore, the lack of combustion does not lead to the formation and emission of polluting gases. This process produces virtually no vibration or noise making the fuel cell an attractive choice for the residential sector. Another important aspect? the greater electrical efficiency that leads to emissions much more? low compared to an internal combustion engine of the same size.

Fuel cell plants connected to the electricity grid are also examples of distributed generation. Distributed generation means the development of a series of small electricity production plants located throughout the territory and connected to the grid. This configuration has several advantages: proximity of the systems to users and consequently less dispersion along the network, island operation and development of smart grids, possibility exploitation of both fossil fuels, renewable sources and cogeneration solutions. Distributed generation is particularly interesting when it comes to renewable sources for two reasons in particular: greater ? the proximity of the plant to the utilities and greater? the efficiency of the system, having to bear lower distribution losses.

Another very important advantage of distributed generation consists in making the network less sensitive to blackouts precisely by virtue of of the greatest number of entry points which would allow, in the event of an interruption of the service, to limit the cascade effect that would be created.

Compared to traditional electricity production systems, fuel cells have several advantages, including:

High electrical efficiency, given that these systems reach 60% efficiency, while an industrial type cogeneration plant reaches 50%;

? Promotion of energy transition initiatives, in relation to the fact that they can also be fueled with fuels from renewable sources;

? business promotion to increase energy efficiency;

? absence of polluting gas emissions, in relation to the fact that the fuel used is not? burned, but chemically converted avoiding gas emissions;

? compact dimensions and absence of vibrations, which make installation suitable in any environment;

? ease? of maintenance, which can? even be performed while station 6 ? working.

Inside the plant 1 according to the invention, the fuel cell station 8 is perfectly integrated with the other technologies present. The cells can convert the biomethane produced by the device 6 into electrical energy, returning the CO2 of biogenic origin extracted from the biomethane used. The energy cos? produced pu? be used in various ways in the urban area A of reference

In particular, the plant 1 according to the invention can validly include heat pumps 9 for the generation of a high temperature vector fluid intended for district heating of a predefined urban area A.

The power supply of the heat pumps will be be conveniently supplied by a component selected from the electrical network and the at least one fuel cell station 8. Thanks to the system 1 according to the invention it can be seen how it is possible to supply electric energy to the heat pumps 9 which supply the thermal energy necessary to the urban area A during the winter months.

The heat pumps 9 provided in the plant 1 transform the electrical energy into heat in a highly efficient way.

A heat pump 9 ? a device that transfers heat from a low temperature place (source) to a high temperature one (user), using energy. Basically, the heat pump uses the same principle as refrigeration machines.

The index or coefficient of useful effect of a heat pump (indicated commercially with the symbol c.o.p. - coefficient of performance) is the ratio between the heat transferred to the hot source and the work expended.

In general:

c.o.p = ?p = Q1 / L = (Q0 + L) / L = Q0/L 1

in which

Q1 ? the useful heat transferred to the hot user L ? mechanical work

Q0 ? the heat absorbed by the cold source The c.o.p. of a heat pump 9 has the same formulation if you pass from energy to power and ? a value that is always greater than 1. In heat pump cycle 9, the heat transferred to the hot source? considered useful heat.

Mechanical work? expressed in terms of electricity used to produce the corresponding quantity? of heat output.

The use of heat pumps 9 of great potential? and suitable for the production of hot water at high temperatures? a technology with multiple large-scale applications.

The use in the field of urban heating foresees the following conditions of use: the pump 9 should allow the vector fluid to reach at least the operating temperature in the delivery network; power rating should generally be between 100 thermal kW up to several thermal MW.

In these operating conditions, the production costs will be comparable with those of the most? economically used industrially. Therefore, although the theoretical operating principle is the same, the heat pumps 9 are completely different machines from those used in the domestic environment. Excluding the possibility to obtain these powers and temperatures from? the air, the? application presupposes the availability? of a cold source consisting of water from rivers, irrigation ditches, lakes, groundwater, low temperature geothermal or waste water from municipal purification plants or derived from process circuits (for example, tower water circuits), to which possible to subtract a thermal power of the order of magnitude comparable to the useful one.

So the development of an industrial application of heat pumps 9 in district heating networks? bound to:

? availability? economically usable water and/or geothermal resources;

? availability? of ?cold? springs low enthalpy such as geothermal energy, rivers or lakes or waste heat from processes or heat recovery;

? availability? of heat pumps 9 which can deliver hot water at the operating temperature to the delivery network;

? possibility? of use on site? electricity instead? sale/purchase through the manager's network;

? supply of the pumps 9 with electricity produced from renewable sources.

The operating temperature in the delivery network that can be used for district heating is obtained with higher powers, using two-stage pumps with high installed electrical power.

The COP depends on many variables inherent in the modalities? of construction, the refrigerant fluid used, the temperature of the cold source, etc. In practical cases, you can? approach, for high temperature pumps, a COP value equal to 3. The technologies are for? rapidly evolving and probable that this value could be exceeded, especially for great powers. The plant 1 can? furthermore advantageously comprising a hydrogen distribution network 10 connected to the outlet mouth of the at least one platform 4 for the production of hydrogen. This network 10 afferir? to users selected from refueling columns 11 for hydrogen-powered vehicles, industries 12, at least one device 5 for the production of biomethane (through a respective duct 13), at least one mixing and introduction apparatus for predefined quantities? of hydrogen in the methane gas distribution network 7 of a predefined urban area A.

It is in fact important to point out that the hydrogen produced by platform 4 will be able to it can also be used for energy purposes, either directly or through direct injection into the methane gas distribution network 7 (at low percentages in the methane network according to a known mixing technology called "blending").

The at least one photovoltaic group 2 pu? advantageously comprising respective structures 15 for raising the panels 3 for the free agricultural use of the underlying ground, according to the method identified by the neologism "agrovoltaic".

In this way the photovoltaic group 2 allows the coexistence of photovoltaic and agriculture. The photovoltaic panels 3 are placed on structures 15 at a predefined height which allows the plants to grow on the ground below, without hindering the workings and agricultural vehicles.

The photovoltaic group 2 will be able also be at least partially built on canopies, which will be installed in order to create shaded areas within the cycle/pedestrian paths, or on car parks, in order to achieve the dual purpose of shading and producing renewable electricity.

In the construction of the photovoltaic group 2 will be held? account of the entire life cycle of the panels to facilitate the recovery of reusable materials at the end of their life. The photovoltaic group 2 inside the plant 1 according to the invention has a fundamental role, since it? ? designed to produce energy at km 0.

The photovoltaic group 2 will be able conveniently be divided into lots of maximum size of 6-10 MW, each of which sar? connected to the medium voltage electricity grid, going cos? to feed the utilities connected to the city's public network and which are located nearby. In this way, citizens will be able to take advantage of the energy produced near their homes and depend less and less on distant energy sources. Group 2 will not graver? then on the national high voltage electricity grid.

The surface area dedicated to photovoltaics, inserted in the connective tissue of area 5 (preferably of a wooded type), will result in a landscape level fully integrated both inside and in the surrounding urban and extra-urban landscape. Area 5, made up of woods, hedges and paths, will be contextualized and interpreted as urban regeneration of problematic areas and basically located on the edges of urban areas.

Photovoltaic panels 3 have undergone considerable evolution over time, increasing efficiency and power: the real innovations, however, are found in the panel supports and in the use of the underlying land.

In the plant 1 according to the invention ? foreseen the adoption of a photovoltaic group 2 on the ground of the fixed type 16, in which each photovoltaic panel 3 ? fixed with an angle that will be? identified according to the geographical location.

There is also the possibility adopt a photovoltaic group 2 on the ground with tracking 17: the photovoltaic installations with tracking 17 optimize the performance of the panels 3, since? solar radiation varies at different times of day and over the course of the seasons. Solar trackers are structures that follow the movements of the sun, orienting the 3 panels (or groups of 3 panels) to always obtain the best exposure and benefit from maximum solar uptake. There are currently two different types of trackers on the market: uniaxial and biaxial, depending on the type of orientation of the panel 3 (or of the panels 3) which they are able to guarantee.

According to a possible modality? of realization, the photovoltaic group 2 sar? divided into various bands: approximately each band will have? rectangular shape of dimensions approximately 350 x 50 meters and could be replicated in order to reach the maximum expected size, corresponding to about 10 MW.

The photovoltaic group 2, in terms of landscape, will be completely integrated both inside the plant 1 and in the surrounding landscape, in fact trees and hedges are planned to insert the photovoltaic group 2 in the context.

In order to limit the shading of the panels, the green band in the northern area with respect to group 2 must be be approximately 5 m away and have a maximum height for plant development of approximately 10 m; while the green band in the south position will have to? have a minimum distance from the photovoltaic group 2 of approximately 10 m, and a maximum height of development of the plants of approximately 5 m.

The at least one photovoltaic group pu? furthermore, they comprise channels for collecting the rain for its use, conveying it to storage basins and the like.

Gravel channels will therefore be created between the rows of panels 3 which will allow the collection and purification of rainwater: the water can then be conveyed to a collection basin for possible irrigation use, or it can flow inside the river bed river pi? Neighbor.

Due to climate change, atmospheric events are less and less frequent and more intense: through a canalization and a phytodepuration process, large quantities can be collected? of water that can be reused within the plant 1 making it hydraulically independent.

The plant 1 can? furthermore conveniently comprising at least one battery of electric accumulators for storing the electric energy produced by the photovoltaic group 2.

Electric energy storage systems in ESS (Energy Storage Systems) batteries constitute an energy revolution: it is a change of strategy in the sector of energy saving from renewable sources or simply a way for end users to reduce consumption costs of electricity.

By way of example, in Italy the rate for electricity exchange on the spot (SSP) is approximately around 0.132 Euro/kWh, while the cost for the purchase of electricity ? an average of 0.19 Euro/kWh (source Arera). This difference in value between the cost paid for the purchase of energy and that paid by the GSE for On-the-Spot Metering? become a driving force and a great incentive to store energy rather than feed it into the electricity grid and then withdraw it when needed.

The energy storage batteries are already? present on the market for some time, but until now they have always been used for stand-alone energy solutions (off-grid) or in commercial back-up (UPS). In recent years, thanks to the reduction in the cost of these batteries, the market for domestic energy storage systems in the form of hybrid solar systems has also begun to acquire significant market shares. The other driving force for the use of storage batteries? energy security. With the increase in extreme weather due to climate change causing periodic blackouts, a battery system can provide immediate back-up power for the home or commercial sector. Residential battery storage systems not only enable energy independence to be achieved, but also provide a means to generate and store clean, renewable energy.

For this purpose, even depleted electric vehicle (EV) batteries can be used for ?second-life applications?. The battery could be regenerated by disassembling and replacing the deteriorated elements to obtain a reconditioned product that can be used in a large number of secondary applications. In other words, the spent battery of an electric vehicle would be ready to live a second life in a context different from the one for which it was originally designed, such as for example for energy storage to power fixed infrastructures. Furthermore, the expected increase in battery power could extend their secondary use to the management of the electricity grid (specifically the so-called Smart Grids or intelligent grids), and to the storage of energy for domestic and industrial applications.

The plant 1 according to the invention is particularly advantageous and efficient if it is made in an area selected between the first periphery and an internal surface of an urban area chosen from a city, a settlement, an industrial area, a trade fair complex, a theme park and the like.

It is specified that thanks to the system 1 according to the invention the electric energy produced by the panels 3 will be able to be used in various fields:

- direct consumption, through use by citizens of urban area A to fuel their own consumption;

- storage for short periods in accumulator batteries, so? that the surplus electricity is stored inside batteries in order to allow its use even during the night;

- seasonal storage through the conversion of surplus electricity into hydrogen (this energy will be used to power platform 4, ie an electrolyser). In fact, hydrogen turns out to be a storable and convertible energy vector. In this way it will be It is possible to store energy in the summer and use it in the winter.

The plant 1 according to the invention lends itself to undertaking initiatives which involve citizens in its implementation, obtaining their consent. Every citizen can purchase a part of the photovoltaic group 2 (one or more photovoltaic panels 3) having in exchange a guaranteed annual remuneration, which will be able to also collect in the form of a discount in the electricity supply invoice or through modalities? alternatives also based on blockchain technology. In this way every citizen can help reduce the environmental impact of your city.

Similar initiatives in other countries have met with great success and participation by citizens: in fact, many people do not have the opportunity to to install a photovoltaic system in their own home and therefore cannot produce renewable energy. The initiative? therefore aimed at citizens with a strong environmental sense who at the same time want to make a profitable economic investment.

How to ? underlined, in this context ? Is it possible to use blockchain technology as a tracking technology for energy flows, which, due to the mode? envisaged in this application, allows for the remuneration and incentives for sustainable behavior linked to the flows of renewable energy produced and used. In particular, every citizen who invests in the photovoltaic group 2 can be combined with a virtual portfolio connected both with the IT platform that governs the productions of plant 1, and with the company? energy supplier to the citizen's home.

Thanks to the virtual wallet, ? It is possible to issue and receive coupons (vouchers), in turn linked to the detection systems of the renewable energy produced. For each kWh produced by the photovoltaic group 2, the citizen receives vouchers proportional to the investment made. These vouchers can then be reused to pay the energy and/or water and/or waste bills (in the event that the multi-utility providing the various services is the same). The usage plan can provide for a simple incentive (in this case the real amounts are treated on other economic channels) or just the payment equal to the entire sum corresponding to the energy produced. This "virtuous award" system can be extended also to energy efficiency behaviors that the citizen can? implement (and which can be tracked and measured using sensors), such as the installation of smart thermostats, the purchase of energy-saving light bulbs, the improvement of annual or monthly energy consumption, the adoption of new technologies that allow for a reduction in consumption, etc.

Similarly, the model can be also apply to area 5 by linking the vouchers to the quantities of CO2 absorbed by the forest (area 5), so a citizen or a company that emits carbon dioxide can? compensate for their carbon emissions by purchasing shares of forest (area 5), thus allowing? the development and expansion of the forest (area 5) itself. Are in this way to optimize structure and identity? of the profile of the "prosumer", that is? of the citizen producer and consumer of energy, a role no longer? reserved only for those who can? install a photovoltaic panel on one's roof, but also extended to all participants in the industrial district connected with plant 1.

In synergy, both photovoltaic group 2 and area 5 can find resources for their development from the participation of citizens and companies.

In relation to the hydrogen production platform 4, it must be specified that the use of hydrogen, be it in internal combustion engines or in fuel cells for the production of electricity, does not generate emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases which could alter the climate, well? releases water vapor as the only residue of combustion or chemical reaction. Hydrogen, although it is the most? element? widespread in? the universe, is not it? naturally contained in the earth?s atmosphere, due to its lightness and volatility; the relative production process therefore becomes strategic: hydrogen is today obtained mainly from the thermochemical conversion of natural gas (methane steam reforming) or hydrocarbons more? heavy, but these processes emit large quantities? of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Once produced, it is generally used on site for refinery processes (hydrocracking) or the production of ammonia and methanol, fundamental components of the chemical industry. L? Hydrogen cos? obtained is called ?gray? if the carbon dioxide produced is dispersed in the atmosphere or ?blue? if it is stored, stored, and possibly reused.

Otherwise, in the plant 1 according to the invention the hydrogen will be instead produced by the electrolysis of the water in platform 4: it is a process that uses electricity to decompose the water molecule into hydrogen and oxygen. This process therefore makes it possible to convert energy from electrical to chemical thanks to the passage of a direct current supplied by an external source. Two of the main advantages of electrolysers are modularity? and scalability? of the system, which add to the ease? installation. The electrolysis technologies accessible on the market today and competitive with each other are the alkaline one and the proton exchange membrane one: the first offers a lower cost? contained, the second a greater compactness of the system and a rapid adaptation to variations in the electrical power supply, a fundamental requirement if one wishes to couple the electrolyser to the photovoltaic group 2 of the system 1. There are then two other technologies: electrolysis solid oxides and the one with an ion exchange membrane, which will probably become competitive in the coming years and for which ? a future application in the plant 1 according to the invention is envisaged. Provided that the energy used to produce it is renewable, "green" hydrogen is obtained, i.e. produced without resorting to fossil fuels and without carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

This production cannot regardless of a widespread diffusion of electricity from renewable, clean and low-cost sources, which makes the price of this type of hydrogen competitive with that of fossil origin. To date, the national and global energy mix depends heavily on fossil fuels, therefore connecting the electrolysers to the grid would prevent obtaining renewable hydrogen, as well as violating the principle of additionality. In the system 1 according to the invention this problem is solved by feeding the platform 4 with self-produced photovoltaic energy by exploiting the daily and seasonal peaks of radiation that can be choose not to enter the electricity grid; moreover, transmission losses are saved on this renewable energy as it is consumed on site. Using hydrogen for energy storage could be a valid alternative, or in any case a support, to other technologies such as batteries or hydroelectric pumping. Another fundamental aspect to consider concerns the difficulty? transport and storage of? hydrogen, related to its low density? energy, which complicates its use in places far from those of production. It is therefore advantageous to consume it in the areas adjacent to the place of production in order to avoid energy losses (and therefore economic losses) in order to compress it, possibly liquefy it, and transport it over long distances, as happens instead for natural gas. The final applications of the hydrogen foreseen for what is produced in the plant 1 according to the invention are all ?at zero kilometres? and concern the industrial sector 12, the mobility? 11 and finally, the introduction into the network 7.

In the area, the construction of a hydrogen pipeline 10 could be envisaged, to create a local network dedicated to the distribution of hydrogen from the production site to the nearby industrial areas 12. Here, hydrogen could be integrated into some industrial processes: its combustion, in fact , produces similar temperatures (slightly higher) to those of methane, for this reason it is particularly suitable in hard-to-abbot sectors (iron and steel industry, cement factories,?) where today it is not used and where electrification? impossible or difficult to implement.

Alternatively, can be used to power industrial logistics vehicles equipped with fuel cells, such as hydrogen forklift trucks, but also fleets of company cars. At a later time, if there were to be a diffusion of hydrogen vehicles more? marked, a filling station 11 could be built open to heavy vehicles and finally to all citizens. Another solution for industry 12, which can also be applied to the residential sector, is the use of stationary fuel cells instead of traditional cogenerators, whether they are gas turbines or internal combustion engines.

Finally, green hydrogen can? be placed and mixed with natural gas in the methane gas network 7 already? existing (blending). The main limitation in this case? linked to the maximum percentage that the network 7 can? accept tax by legislation, limited to a few percentage points. To solve this problem ? It is possible to convert hydrogen to methane by mixing the gas with carbon dioxide in a process called methanation. In this case, the gas network would have no problems accepting the methane produced, as long as? it respects the imposed network specifications. This process would also make it possible to close the CO2 cycle deriving from other industrial processes, from traditional combustion systems or from fuel cells 9 powered by methane.

Area 5 envisages the naturalization of urban and agricultural areas A through the creation of a wooded area managed as a "carbon sink", with finality? generation of ecosystem services in the area and absorption and biological storage of atmospheric CO2. The capacity? fixative of CO2 by tree species? recognized by the Kyoto protocol, which admits the use of forests as a tool to try to slow down the increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. Forests and woodlands therefore take the form of tools for mitigating emissions and their implementation contributes to pursuing SDGs 13 and 11 of the 2030 Agenda.

At the forest level, the wooded area 5 can be made both with trees and with herbaceous and shrub species, according to the structure of the oak-hornbeam forest, corresponding to the natural lowland vegetation of the Po Valley. The oak-hornbeam ? a wood built mainly by the English oak (Quercus robur) and the white hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), which are associated in a variable way with the ossiphyllum ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) in the most? wetlands, the field maple (Acer campestre) and the field elm (Ulmus minor). The shrub layer? composed of species belonging to the genera Rosa, Rubus, Ligustrum, Crataegus, Corylus, Cornus, Prunus, Hedera, Clematis and others. The genera Vinca, Polygonatum, Listera, Mercurialis, Campanula, Allium ursinum, Brachypodium, Deschampsia, Primula, Anemone, Viola, Fragaria and others are frequent in the herbaceous layer.

Inside area 5 they can also? be included in marshy areas and/or bodies of water to promote biodiversity? of the ecosystem. For the creation of the wooded area 5, a fertilization of the plant is envisaged using as amendments the digestate deriving from the anaerobic digestion process for the production of biogas, the compost and/or purification sludge. These matrices, which represent by-products of plant 1, will be exploited as sources of organic matter input to the soil in area 5 and the neighboring green areas.

Part of area 5 sar? dedicated to the phytoremediation process of water. The phytoremediation? a natural purification system for domestic, agricultural and sometimes industrial wastewater, which reproduces the principle of self-purification typical of aquatic environments and wetlands. This technology foresees that the waste water is purified through the use of a waterproofed basin in which the gravel substrate and the vegetable one combine their action in order to make the water clean. The purification process? completely ecological and does not involve the use of polluting substances. The unpurified water flows into the bed made up of gravel and aquatic plants, the microbiota that lives in symbiosis with the root system of the plant essences, eliminates the pollutants present in the water through completely natural biochemical reactions. This biological water treatment system has several positive characteristics including the simplicity? and the? Cheapness? of construction, as well as reduced maintenance.

The waste water purified with this technology can be used for irrigation purposes within the urban forest itself, both for the areas dedicated to the protection of biodiversity and than for those man-made (botanical gardens and urban gardens).

Is area 5 suitable as a highly natural area? aimed at the repopulation of local tree and shrub species and the protection of fauna and local territorial elements, forming an integral part of the national ecological network. Is it about what? also of an ecological network ? defined as an interconnected system of habitats, whose biodiversity must be safeguarded, thus paying attention to potentially threatened animal and plant species. Working on the ecological network means creating and/or strengthening a connection and interchange system between isolated areas and natural elements, thus to counter fragmentation and its negative effects on biodiversity. Thanks to the presence of tree and shrub strips and linear corridors of herbaceous vegetation within wooded matrixes, area 5 acts as a habitat and channel for the movement of animals and spores between the different areas of the national ecological network, allowing genetic interchange , an indispensable phenomenon for the maintenance of biodiversity.

Area 5 includes areas dedicated to beekeeping and honey production, made up of herbaceous and shrubby essences that are attractive to these insects. Bees and other pollinators play a very important role both in agriculture and in the protection of biodiversity. vegetation in natural areas, are also an important indicator of quality? of the environment.

Area 5? a structure modeled in relation to the context and the needs of neighborhood services or a specific urban section. It lends itself perfectly to building a landscape system capable of supporting a series of urban services, recreational, environmental and urban landscape improvement functions. The enhancement of the structure of the territorial fabric becomes an opportunity for the creation, for example, of low environmental impact routes such as nature trails, cycle paths, sports routes as well as refreshment areas and spaces for events.

Collaborations may be activated with sports promotion bodies and/or sports equipment manufacturers to set up areas dedicated to sports activities. outdoor sports; organize group courses and activities holistic methods to rediscover harmony with the environment and nature.

Sar? Is it possible to activate educational projects on the environment and on sustainability? such as workshops, educational tours, educational workshops for children and teenagers, guided tours, etc. Part of area 5 could? in fact be set up as a botanical garden, serving as a teaching tool for schools, universities? and research centres. What? like the botanical garden, the area dedicated to the protection of pollinating insects and beekeeping can also be exploited as a didactic and awareness-raising tool regarding the importance of pronubi for the protection of the ecosystem.

Such activities? available to citizens, have the purpose of enhancing the link with the territory, building cognitive paths for the acquisition of awareness with respect to sustainability issues? and renewable energies, the promotion of human well-being and the protection of the environment.

Part of area 5 sar? dedicated to the creation of urban gardens cio? owned green spaces municipal and of variable size whose management? entrusted for a defined period of time to individual citizens, more? often united in specific associations. The beneficiaries, typically non-professional farmers, receive these spaces in concession for one or more predefined purposes, first of all that relating to the production of flowers, fruit and vegetables that will serve to satisfy the needs of the assignees.

Do urban gardens create value for the community? and for its territory. They can generate a wide range of benefits, first of all seasonal production for self-consumption, and represent a way to build multiple and integrated results of an individual, social, environmental and economic type that have to do with the relationship with nature, health and nutrition, self-esteem, environmental education, personal growth, friendship, development of skills, expression of one's own culture, inclusion and social cohesion, local economy and so on. Similar initiatives are of help both to the new generations, as they sensitize them with respect to ideas of the city? more sustainable and ?green?, but also to adults or the elderly who, through urban gardens, have the possibility to do activities physics in the open air and produce nutritious food without the use of chemicals and pesticides.

Being inserted in an agricultural-rural context, area 5 lends itself as a place for the valorisation of agricultural productions with low environmental impact obtained both on site and from agricultural activities. neighboring farm. Sar? the purchase of "zero kilometres" products or products derived from cultivation methods with low environmental impact in respect of the territory is available.

The purchase of products deriving from sustainable agricultural practices allows you to reduce CO2 emissions and allows you to enjoy a seasonal product with valuable organoleptic characteristics. The project therefore also lends itself to raising awareness of the consumer on conscious purchases both in terms of the concept of quality? of agri-food products that regarding the values of sustainability? environmental and social aspects of production.

The cores of the plant 1 according to the invention, cio? the energy production systems and the urban forest area 5 with its services are a single integrated and intelligent urban organism. The positioning in the territory of the plant 1? fundamental. As mentioned, it is positioned as a ?protection? and defense of citizens' well-being, as a sort of "enclosure" of urban centers A. The innovative aspect? the integration of the functions described above. The wooded landscape of area 5, well cared for as objectives and destinations, acts as a connective tissue for areas of production and supply of energy and services. Represents a complex ecosystem interdependent on the complexity urban. The synergies it expresses make it intelligent, a "green" oasis that gives breath and new resources to the city? (urban areas A). The location around the city? (urban area A) results in a green belt which defines its limits and also the relationship with the surrounding agricultural areas. The transformation of the territory will have an incremental process, for defined modules and models, specific for each urban nucleus.

Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems set forth above, proposing a plant 1 with very low environmental impact for the production and management of energy which can be placed near of a town (urban area A) to meet, at least partially, the related energy needs.

Conveniently, the plant 1 according to the invention does not lead to a consumption or deterioration of the water and natural resources of the installation area.

Positively does the plant 1 according to the invention ? independent of fossil fuels.

The plant 1 according to the invention usefully promotes biodiversity.

Does the plant 1 according to the invention favorably? easily and pleasantly usable by the inhabitants of the urban settlement where it is located? installed.

Effectively, the plant 1 according to the invention is relatively simple to make in practice and has low costs: these characteristics make the plant 1 according to the invention an innovation that can be applied safely.

The found, what? conceived, ? susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In the examples of embodiment illustrated, single characteristics, reported in relation to specific examples, could actually be? interchanged with other different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

In practice, the materials used, as well as? the dimensions may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.

Claims (12)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S 1. Plant for the production and management of renewable energy for urban, industrial and similar areas characterized in that it includes - at least one photovoltaic unit (2) for converting the solar energy incident on at least one respective panel (3) into electrical energy; - at least one platform for the production of hydrogen (4), powered, also indirectly, by means of the electric energy produced by said at least one photovoltaic group (2); - at least one area (5), contiguous to at least one component selected from said at least one platform for the production of hydrogen (4) and said at least one photovoltaic unit (2), cultivated with plants preferably selected from trees, bushes, shrubs and similar, for the conversion of carbon dioxide into oxygen. 2. Plant according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one device (6) for the production of biomethane fueled by hydrogen, coming from said platform (4), and carbon dioxide. 3. Plant according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said biomethane delivered by said device (6) is injected into the methane gas distribution network (7) of a predefined urban area A. 4. Plant, according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one fuel cell station (8), powered by methane gas, for the production of electricity. 5. Plant according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it calls at least one fuel cell station (8)? associated with at least one storage stage of the carbon dioxide emitted by said fuel cells. 6. Plant according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one carbon dioxide storage stage ? suitable for feeding said at least one device (6) for the production of biomethane. 7. Plant, according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises heat pumps (9) for the generation of a high temperature vector fluid intended for district heating of a predefined urban area (A), the electrical power supply of said heat pumps (9) being supplied by a component selected from said photovoltaic group 2, the electrical grid and said at least one fuel cell station (8). 8. Plant, according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a hydrogen distribution network (10) connected to the outlet mouth of said at least one platform (4) for the production of hydrogen, said network (10) referring to users selected from refueling stations (11) for hydrogen-powered vehicles, industries (12), said at least one device (6) for the production of biomethane, at least one mixing and introduction apparatus of predefined quantities of hydrogen in said methane gas distribution network (7) of a predefined urban area (A). 9. Plant, according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one photovoltaic group (2) comprises respective structures (15) for raising the panels (3) for the free agricultural use of the underlying land, according to the method identified by the neologism "agrovoltaic". 10. Plant, according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one photovoltaic unit (2) comprises rain collection ducts for its use, conveyance to storage basins and the like. 11. Plant, according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one battery of electric accumulators for storing the electric energy produced by said photovoltaic group (2). 12. Plant, according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that ? built in an area chosen between the first periphery and an internal surface of an urban area (A) chosen between a city, a settlement, an industrial area, a fair-exhibition complex, a theme park and the like.