Chronology

Dobbiaco was already in search of an ecofriendly energy supply system in the nineteen-nineties. As one of the coldest places in South Tirol, and as a tourist resort, the town needs a lot of energy for heating. District heating with wood chips proved to be a sustainable solution.

1994: The Tauernplan Consulting company draws up a study for building a distant heating plant run on biomass. The results confirm the project.
16 november, 1994: "Dobbiaco district heating co-operative with limited liability" is founded.
12 january, 1995: Per.ind. Alfred Jud is contracted to perform general planning and project management.
18 may, 1995: After 220 preliminary contracts with future heat customers, the project is launched.
27 november, 1995: The plant begins supplying the first district heating on schedule.
End of 1995: 180 substations are installed and district heating is supplied to 160 customers.
1996: After completing the second stage of construction, connections per square kilometre are at a density of 70%.
1997: San Candido discusses linking up with the Dobbiaco district heating plant.
1997: National Award Carnia Alpe Verde – Abete d’Argento.
1998: The provincial government approves funds for linking the main part of San Candido up to the Dobbiaco district heating plant.
26 june, 1998: Arge Alp Award 1998 in Bronze.
20 august, 1998: Per.ind. Alfred Jud, Dr. Ing. Walter Sulzenbacher and Ing. Franz Heidolt start planning.
27 november, 1998: ENEA Award – Premio Speciale 1998.
End of august, 1999: Work begins on laying district heating piping in San Candido.
November, 1999: District heating supply to the ﬁrst homes and companies in San Candido.
24 april, 2001: First joint board elected.
01 february 2002: After discussing the construction of a third biomass boiler generating electricity in summer 2001, Ing. Franz Heidolt and Ing. Robert Gabriel present the project for expanding the district heating plant.
22 april, 2003: Provincial councillor Dr. Michl Laimer attends the laying of the foundation stone for the extension.
6 november, 2003: The new biomass boiler is commissioned. In addition to the two existing biomass boilers with a capacity of 4 MW, the new boiler generates 10 MW.
2 december, 2003: The district heating plant produces additional electricity with the 1.5 MW ORC module. It is the biggest in Europe.
27 october, 2004: The plenary assembly approves the new statues and a new company name: "Dobbiaco-San Candido cooperative district heating plant".
25 juni, 2005: The visitor’s display opens in the new building of the district heating power plant. The visitor’s display is the first of its kind in Europe.