Since 2014, the Panorama and Wellness Hotel Taljörgele in South Tyrol has been relying entirely on wood energy to meet its heating and electricity needs. Three HKA 45 biomass power plants from Spanner Re² ensure a reliable and environmentally friendly energy supply. In their first year of operation, the plants achieved an impressive runtime of around 8,400 hours. In 2015, they even exceeded the 8,500-hour mark – corresponding to a plant availability of over 97% per year. Both guests and hotel owners benefit from this sustainable energy concept: vacationers enjoy a CO₂-neutral stay, while the hotel operates independently of external energy sources and generates additional income by feeding electricity from the wood gas CHP units into the grid and selling heat via a local heating network.
CO2-neutral energy for wellness hotel and local heating network using wood gas CHP units
The energy-intensive hotel operation with 120 beds, kitchen and catering facilities, an indoor and outdoor pool and the wellness and spa area with sauna facilities are the top consumers of the wood energy produced. The hotel requires around 280 kW of heating power. In addition, the wood gas CHP cascade supplies a local heating network to which a farm and three private houses are connected. A biomass boiler is available to cover peak loads in winter and during major maintenance work.
Seventeen percent of the electricity generated covers the Haller family's business and private energy consumption, while the remaining electrical energy is fed into the public grid in return for remuneration.
Local waste wood as fuel for wood gas CHP plants
Just a few minutes' walk away, at the Taljörgele riding stable, is the wood-fired power plant owned by the Haller family, the owners of the hotel. Their power plant is where Spanner Re²'s three wood gasification systems are installed. Fuel processing also takes place there. Only local waste wood is used as fuel. The wood is processed into wood chips using a chipper. Neither fine particles nor long pieces need to be sieved out of the finished fuel. A double-pot dryer dries the still-moist wood chips and also serves as a storage bunker (2 x 100 m³). The wood gasifiers are supplied with wood chips directly from the storage bunker.
Wood power plant
In an interview with plant operator Eugen Haller, 2015:
Hello Eugen, what benefits does your wood gas CHP plant bring to your hotel business and local heating network?
A secure supply of energy all year round is very important to us. That's why the wood-fired cascade concept is the ideal solution for us.
How much work is required?
Depending on the type of maintenance, around 0 to 3 hours per week per plant. However, most of the work is required for wood chip management, such as filling the double pot dryer or the wood chip storage facility.
Sustainability – an important part of your concept?
Yes, the Panorama Resort Taljörgele has been CO2-neutral for several years and focuses on environmentally friendly decisions in all its business activities. Starting with our in-house wood-fired power plant with wood gasification systems from Spanner Re², through our in-house hydroelectric power plant, to local products sourced from within a maximum radius of 50 kilometers. We offer our guests a CO2-neutral vacation.
Did you know?
Wood gas CHP plants can also be operated with pellets instead of wood chips.
Spanner Re² wood gas CHP units are also available for operation with pellets. This saves time and makes the system technology more compact -feel free to contact us for more information!
