Awel Aman Tawe asked us to assist with a pre-project study into the viability of a combined heat and power (CHP) community-heating scheme in Ystalyfera, Powys.

With the presence of a natural gas infrastructure in this area, the use of gas as an energy source would appear sensible.  However, it is important that the decision on fuel source is not made on current price alone.  The environmental argument for the use of biomass as the main energy source is strong. Also, although global estimates of gas reserves show that natural gas production is likely to extend beyond that of oil production, gas prices are likely to increase substantially as it becomes clear that global demand will shortly exceed production.  This will occur well within the lifetime of the scheme and probably before 2010.  It is recommended that any longer-term energy infrastructure project, such as community heating, be fuelled by renewable energy rather than by gas.

An initial site for an energy station was identified, together with a number of potential heat users (Fig. 1).  A possible route for a heat main was drawn up.  The amount of gas currently being used by the hospital and the swimming pool was provided and the heat loads of other buildings were estimated.

Ystalyfera showing potential heat users (circled blue) and heat mains (red) for an initial scheme.