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ACEA Tor di Valle

District heating plant, Tor di Valle

Power Generation

Customer ACEA

Where Tor di Valle (Rome)

Solution Power generation

Sector Industrial | District heating | Multi-utility

        
          To replace its Tor di Valle plant, built 30 years ago, ACEA has appointed a consortium including General Electric and Cefla to carry out the required renovation works, so as to ensure quality and continuity for 40,000 residents and significantly improve efficiency, addressing issues related to prices in today's wholesale energy market.

Strengths

Turnkey solution

Cefla managed the entire project, from design to installation, including seismic retrofitting and restoration of existing structures.

Advanced technology

Installation of two GE Jenbacher J920 FleXtra motor generators, each with a capacity of 9.5 MW, for a total output of 19 MW of electricity and approximately 15 MW of heat, with an overall efficiency of over 80%.

Operational flexibility

The engines can be started or stopped in less than 5 minutes, allowing Acea to flexibly meet the needs of the network in real time.

Environmental sustainability

Reduction of CO₂ emissions by 16,000 tonnes per year, improving air quality for the local community.

Key Numbers

50 km

total length of the network

19 MW

Electricity

15 MW

Thermal energy

production

>80%

Overall efficiency

Background

The Tor di Valle power plant, located in Rome between Via Ostiense and the Tiber River, is a strategic facility for district heating in the Mostacciano, Torrino Sud and Mezzocamino neighbourhoods. The plant, which has been in operation for over 30 years, needed to be modernised to improve energy efficiency and reduce its environmental impact.

        
          Today, the efficiency of the plant ensures that only the exact amount of fuel needed to meet the local population's heating, hot water and wastewater treatment requirements is used.

Challenges

Refurbishment of an existing plant
Adapting a decades-old power plant to modern energy and environmental requirements.
Integration of new technologies
Installing latest-generation cogeneration engines and auxiliary boilers without interrupting the district heating service.
Flexible production management
Ensuring a rapid response to changes in energy demand.

Project Tasks

Cefla, in collaboration with General Electric, provided a complete solution that includes:
Installation of two GE Jenbacher J920 FleXtra motor generators, each with a capacity of 9.5 MW.
Addition of three auxiliary gas boilers for a total thermal power of 70 MW, useful for covering peak demand.
Revamping and seismic proofing of the existing building.
Implementation of an advanced control system for optimal plant management.
Multi-year maintenance contract to guarantee engine performance.

Implementation

Acea has worked in conjunction with two key partners to achieve energy self-sufficiency at its wastewater treatment plant.

The partnership with General Electric and Cefla has enabled the J920 FleXtra gas engine to be commissioned four months ahead of schedule.

The use of 3D simulations accelerated the design and installation process.

The J920 FleXtra engines are the first commercial units in operation in Italy.

General Electric supplied the necessary equipment, while Cefla managed the engineering and installation tasks, ensuring seismic compliance and CE certification.

The Tor di Valle plant, operational since 2017, offers 80% efficiency, reducing CO2 emissions by 16,000 tonnes per year and improving air quality.

Cogeneration enables efficient fuel use and energy self-sufficiency for the treatment plant, which serves over 2 million residents.

Six 1,320 m3 tanks manage peak demand, and the engines can be started or stopped in less than 5 minutes, allowing Acea to respond quickly to network requirements. The plant contributes significantly to reducing local emissions, improving the quality of life in Tor di Valle.