Vernante: Local Biomass at the Heart of the Energy Transition
In the Alpine province of Cuneo (Italy), the municipality of Vernante has placed local resources at the heart of its energy transition. For years, its 700 hectares of municipal forest were underused and unmanaged. Today, thanks to a visionary project launched in 2015 and supported by regional development funds, these forests are actively managed to provide both renewable energy and local jobs.
In partnership with Edison Next and the cooperative Alpiforest, Vernante has built a district heating network fuelled by woodchips at "kilometro zero". The chips are produced directly from the town’s own forests. An old municipal building was repurposed to house the system’s heart: four Herz Firematic 499 biomass boilers, each independently fed by automated conveyors and equipped with advanced combustion control. This modern technology ensures high efficiency and very low emissions, proving that bioenergy can combine sustainability with cutting-edge performance.
The network now supplies all municipal buildings, including schools and the town hall, as well as a growing number of households, apartment blocks, care homes, hospitality businesses and restaurants. Local users stress that choosing the network was natural. Just as they rely on local milk, butter and cheese, it makes sense that their heat should also come from their own territory.
For Vernante, the benefits go beyond clean energy. Active management of the municipal forest improves its health and makes it more resilient to climate-related threats such as pests, storms and fires. The steady demand for local wood creates stable employment in forestry and system operation, while revenues stay in the valley and strengthen the rural economy. Importantly, this energy independence gives the community resilience against volatile fossil fuel markets.
Vernante’s district heating project shows how even a small Alpine village can lead Europe’s energy transition. By combining local biomass sourcing, citizen participation, and modern technology, the community has turned its forests into a renewable resource for heat, jobs and long-term sustainability.
