Italian research in the energy field resolutely competes with the most advanced countries. The challenge for new technologies is played on financial resources. We know about the private ones. Of the public ones we always take into account their scarcity. All right, of the strict selection of what is contributed. And there are thousands of projects presented and punished by the lack of euros in universities and research centres.
Enea succeeded in obtaining a loan of 5.8 million euros to develop a solar disk that produces electricity. A project selected by the EU that ended well. A disk that generates clean energy, captured from the sun thanks to a turbine system. Companies, shopping centres, schools and public buildings can use it. It doesn't matter if they are connected to the mains. They can also be disconnected, the disk will take care of ensuring the necessary requirement. Before seeing it on the market, however, it will be some time.
However, the product wants to establish itself as an excellence made in Italy. The conditions are there and they can be useful for financing other similar projects. After four years of experimentation, on 29 September Enea presents it to the public in the center of the Casaccia, on the outskirts of Rome. The prototype will be judged by experts and users, who will directly discover how it works. Technically it is a disk with a diameter of over 10 square meters with mirrors that incorporate energy. The world first is that energy can be supplied on demand at any time of the day or night. There are no limitations.
Approximately 70 kW are intercepted from the sun capable – to get an idea – of satisfying an entire condominium. Technicians take pride in their work. It is the first example in the world that combines advances in concentrating solar technologies with the use of air turbines. In the days when we discuss the new energy strategy, Enea's record takes on a multiple value. The environment benefits without emissions into the atmosphere or fuel plants. The electricity bill benefits. The distribution network benefits. There is, then, also the ambition of international recognition although the presentation to the public is basically an intermediate step towards commercialization.
Research has put avant-garde technology to good use, creating a product that can satisfy various types of needs. It will be necessary to accredit it and disseminate it on the markets. In 2018 there will be other tests and other simulations. But the ENEA scientists want to maintain the spirit of the OMSoP project, funded in 2013 by the European Union. Inside, as partners, we find the Roma Tre University, the City University of London, the Royal Institute Technology of Stockholm and the companies Compower, Innova and European Turbine Network. For all a bet won.
