David,

For starters Braemar has 3 x 150MW turbines. The layout of the plant does not indicate that "all the infrastructure is in place for heat recovery boilers". The boilers, equipment etc are normally bigger than the turbines and equipment, and Braemar would takea not inconsiderable modification.

Small generation plants today use steam up to 550C so exhaust at 500C is of little use to standard modern designs. Flue gas after the boilers is typically >140C and so a small increase in exhaust gas temperature is of great benefit. The plant I have been involved in designing supplies electricity and low pressure steam to process plant, so the requirement for flue gas temp is not so critical, but even then is more efficient with higher exhaust temperature.

SM,

So when the Braemar 1 plant manager pointed at the area directly east of the turbines and said "this is where the heat recovery boilers will go", he was making it up? Hmmm...

And I suppose the Origin website for Mortlake operations is also lying about the turbines being converted to cogeneration.

And the base-load Darling Downs station is only pretending to be combined cycle?

And TruEnergy must be kidding themselves that they think it's suitable to make their 1000MW gas power station in the Latrobe valley combined cycle when it clearly is not suitable for stand alone power generation...

David,

Having a patch of land set aside does not qualify for "having all the required infrastructure in place."

I see 3 single stream gas turbines, scrubbers and stacks. The space for boilers, water purification, cooling, generation etc which probably cost more than the existing plant need space not allowed for in the existing streams.

It can be done at a price, if the energy recovery from the low temp gas is worthwhile.

Hey guys, get a room!
Just 5 more sleeps until the sky falls in.

Pollie pay rises? Oh Yeah http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/senator-lashes-out-as-pollies-given-another-5500-pay-rise/story-fndo3ewo-1226416182460

[Deleted for off topic.]