Estimating the Potential Biomasses Energy Source of Forest and Agricultural Residues in the Cinque Terre Italian National Park

This paper aims to evaluate the feasibility of biomasses exploitation as an alternative Energy source, in areas characterized by high environmental, cultural and landscaping value. In particular, a methodology for assessing the energy potential from biomass was applied in protected areas, using Geographic Information System (GIS) software and data from European Program Corine Land Cover, jointly with other local data useful for analyzing the topography and the biomass availability of the chosen territory, as well as for an assessment of the necessary logistics for biomasses transportation. This methodology was applied to the Cinque Terre national park, obtaining as a result an estimation of the potential biomasses energy source coming from forest and agricultural residues.