The Thermal Waste Conversion Plant (5): power turbines

Sound recorded in front of a steam turbine that drives an electric power generator. The heat recovered from the exhaust gas is used to produce steam that drives a steam turbine set consisting of a turbine, a gearbox and a generator. In total, sufficient energy is recovered from the waste incinerated to produce 65,000 MWh of electricity, which is equal to the amount that Krakow trams need in a year, as well as 280,000 MWh of thermal energy which is 10% of the annual heating system needs of the city of Krakow. The energy obtained from the incineration of waste is considered to a large extent as renewable energy.

The recording was made at the Thermal Waste Conversion Plant (Eco Incineration Plant), located on the south-eastern outskirts of Krakow. The mixed municipal waste that finds its way there is incinerated, and the energy recovered in this process produces electricity for the plant or feeds the power grid. During the day, around 700 tonnes of waste are processed on two parallel lines at the Eco Incineration Plant.

Sound recording: Monika Widzicka
Photo: Piotr Żabicki