The THERMIE Energy Farm (TEF) project was successful in obtaining a grant from the THERMIE Programme in 1994 to demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of biomass-gasification (using a combined-cycle power-unit) in the range of 8 to 12 MWe. The construction phase began in May, 1997, and it is expected that the power station will be commissioned in 2000. The financial viability of the project relies on the incentive provided by the Italian government, with a premium price per kilowatt hour of electricity produced from renewables and on the financial contribution from the European Union.