The construction of the new COGEN plant owned by HERA S.p.A. was characterised by the need to build from scratch the entire “machine building” intended to house the cogeneration systems together with the auxiliary and emergency boilers.
Built with a steel structure and enclosure walls made of sound-insulating panels externally clad in ceramic or expanded metal sheeting, the refurbishment of the service building — intended for the control room and plant services — was carried out by upgrading the existing reinforced concrete structure to meet seismic standards. This intervention included insulated panel cladding externally finished with ceramic or expanded metal coverings, as well as the redevelopment of the surrounding outdoor area.
In addition to the structural and functional renovation of the power plant, the project also included a complete aesthetic redesign of the entire complex. The ventilated façade cladding was therefore used both functionally and creatively as a screening element for the exhaust towers. Vertical panels in different colours mounted on the elliptical steel supporting structure create an unusual yet striking brise-soleil, showcasing the remarkable versatility of the chosen materials.
The colour palette of the new plant was inspired by the tones of the city of Bologna: brick red, ochre yellow, tuff yellow, dark brown, and rust brown.
The facility is distinguished by its extremely high standards and operational efficiency. It is capable of heating the equivalent of 8,000 residential units while producing up to 35,000 MWh of energy per year — nearly double the previous output. Through the recovery of heat contained in exhaust fumes, the two gas turbines are able to generate 7.44 MWt each, while four additional conventional boilers provide a further 11 MWt for integration and backup purposes.
The new plant has also drastically reduced emissions, cutting nitrogen oxide emissions by 21 tonnes and CO₂ emissions by 2,500 tonnes annually.
