Social and Economic Impact of a Waste-to-Energy Strategy Applied to the Winemaking Chain: A Case Study in the Italian Countryside

The present work analysed the feasibility and impacts of a biomass-fuelled Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant in the Frascati Scientific Park (FSP). The biomass-fuelled CHP will be fed by the pruning coming from the adjoining vineyards of Frascati DOC winemaking chain, thus creating a circular economy on a supposed waste. This process can help an important economic player in the local social community, which is suffering from climate changes conditions. Thus, the local pruning energy potential is calculated and the impacts of the afore-mentioned waste-to-energy strategy by means of a CHP, as well as other solutions in an integrated and synergic model, over the areas of economy, environment, energy, and community are evaluated. The results show how much, with a wider organization, it is possible to increase the direct revenues of the local winemaking of 79,915.79 € and to avoid of 1,213 t of CO2per year.