The plant
Main data
The Alessandro Volta plant consists of 8 gas turbines (120 MW each) associated in pairs with 4 steam units (660 MW of power per unit). The units can be operated in "simple cycle" or "repowered cycle" mode. The plant is equipped with emission abatement and Air Quality sensor systems; it has also received security certification OHSAS 18001 and ISO 9001, ISO14001 and EMAS for quality.
Recent events
In April 2017, the Selection Commission, which was called on to evaluate the suitability of the submitted projects based on the criteria of social, environmental and economic sustainability, made its conclusions. Enel then began negotiations with the counterparts that had submitted the three projects judged to be suitable for the area, in a series of meetings held to identify the best solution for the site.
In May 2016 the public procedure was launched for the acquisition and redevelopment of the site, which is still in progress. The initiative involved the collaboration between Enel, the Polytechnic University of Milan, local organizations from the Montalto area, regional and provincial authorities and the Tuscia University.
The facility is located on a site that was originally intended to house one of Italy’s first nuclear power plants, the construction of which was halted following the accident in Chernobyl in 1987. The thermoelectric plant entered into service gradually beginning in 1992. In 2009 it was joined by a photovoltaic plant that extends over an area of 12 hectares, with around 35,000 modules that produce a total of 8.5-9 GWh per year.
In recent years the thermoelectric plant has seen a drastic fall in production, entering into service less and less frequently and for short periods.