I think this is a very good panel discussion, because it touches on the real issues facing developing heat networks from EfW plants. It also raises the thermodynamic issues that face attaching heat networks to EfW plants in this country. I agree with Andy Yuill on how we could improve heat generation from EfW plants. The problem is that in order to fund the development of plants, it is mostly now through private sector finance and investors insist on demonstrable revenue streams. Heat networks usually follow the construction and financing of the plant and the developer cannot get any guarantee on the heat income. Consequently, electricity sales are used to underpin the investment and the steam systems are designed using condensing turbines with as much back-end vacuum as possible to maximise electrical output. Tapping off a small steam flow interstage from the turbine casing degrades the performance of the system rather than enhancing it. If we are to overcome these issues, public funding will be required to guarantee heat sales and allow the right setup to be built in the first place. The private sector is unlikely to achieve this on its own.
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I think this is a very good panel discussion, because it touches on the real issues facing developing heat networks from EfW plants. It also raises the thermodynamic issues that face attaching heat networks to EfW plants in this country. I agree with Andy Yuill on how we could improve heat generation from EfW plants. The problem is that in order to fund the development of plants, it is mostly now through private sector finance and investors insist on demonstrable revenue streams. Heat networks usually follow the construction and financing of the plant and the developer cannot get any guarantee on the heat income. Consequently, electricity sales are used to underpin the investment and the steam systems are designed using condensing turbines with as much back-end vacuum as possible to maximise electrical output. Tapping off a small steam flow interstage from the turbine casing degrades the performance of the system rather than enhancing it. If we are to overcome these issues, public funding will be required to guarantee heat sales and allow the right setup to be built in the first place. The private sector is unlikely to achieve this on its own.