Rovereto District Heating Project Revives After Decades, Aims to Cut Costs

The first project, a projection of what could be done, how it might be implemented, and why it should be undertaken, dates back to the late 1980s. Signed by engineer Bondavalli on behalf of the Amsea workshop (now Ags), it was a preliminary plan that remained such because the administrators at the time and those who followed failed to launch it.

Now, the Malossini administration is trying to hit the mark where others have «failed». The goal is to equip the city with a widespread district heating network that runs from Porto S. Nicolò to the Ags headquarters in via Ardaro, serving public and private users, companies, hotels, commercial activities, and ordinary citizens.

Project description and involvement

A project with a financial scope amounting to several billion lire, which would involve, alongside the Comune and the Ags, also Cartiere del Garda S.p.A. For clarity, we are still in the early contact phase, in the «initial discussions», and with ideas to schedule for the medium term.

The council, based on the proposal of the urban planning assessor Adalberto Mosaner, recently discussed it with the intention of revisiting the matter in the coming months, possibly as early as March, after the budget has been approved.

This overall discussion encompasses the entire reorganization of viale Rovereto, and among the ideas is the creation of a swimming center in the area of the former Colonia Miralago.

On its part, Ags denies «official contacts» but not unofficial ones. In short, the engine has restarted; the question remains whether it won’t become bogged down along the way and whether the public and private sectors will find enough «fuel» (money) to reach the finish line.

Technical details and pathways

The concept of district heating entails the construction of a cogeneration plant that produces electricity and hot water, which would then be distributed to selected areas of the city through kilometers of underground pipes.

The previous Bondavalli project envisioned a broad outline route that, starting from the Ags headquarters in via Ardaro, touched viale Cannella, viale Roma, viale Dante, viale Carducci, viale Rovereto, and ended at Porto S. Nicolò.

Then, possibly in multiple phases, all necessary branchings could be studied and implemented to maximize this heating system.

The cogeneration plant would be built within the perimeter of Cartiere del Garda, in synergy with the company itself, unless the existing facility at Cartiera is sufficient to meet demand.

From there, underground pipelines would transmit hot water and heat. Before making any decisions, the municipal administration intends to assess the interest of companies that could benefit from this service, starting with the hotel sector along viale Rovereto.

Participation, for both companies and private citizens, is of course voluntary.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits? Reduced environmental pollution and lower heating costs. However, creating the system will require billions—approximately 60 billion lire in Rovereto.

The disadvantages? For a few months, construction sites and traffic disruptions will occur. But the effort is worth it.