Heat Recovery and Decarbonisation

Waste Heat Recovery: Unlocking Hidden Energy

What is Waste Heat Recovery?

Waste heat recovery is the process of capturing and reusing the excess heat generated during industrial or commercial processes that would otherwise be lost to the environment. By converting this “waste” into useful energy, businesses can significantly reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and improve overall efficiency.

Whether it’s exhaust gases from a furnace, heat from a diesel generator, or hot water leaving a cooling system, this untapped energy source offers powerful potential for sustainability and savings.

How Does It Work?

Waste heat recovery systems vary based on application, but common technologies include:

  • Heat Exchangers – Transfer heat from one fluid or gas stream to another.
  • Regenerators – Store heat from hot gases and release it to incoming cold gases.
  • Waste Heat Boilers – Use exhaust heat to produce steam for heating or power generation.
  • Organic Rankine Cycle Systems (ORC) – Convert low-temperature waste heat into electricity.

These systems are integrated directly into existing industrial infrastructure, allowing facilities to recover energy without disrupting operations.

Applications Across Industries

Waste heat recovery is used in a wide range of sectors:

  • Manufacturing – Reclaim heat from furnaces, kilns, and compressors.
  • Power Generation – Capture exhaust heat from gas turbines and engines.
  • Food & Beverage – Reuse heat from ovens, dryers, and refrigeration systems.
  • Chemical & Petrochemical – Recover thermal energy from high-temperature processes.
  • Data Centers – Use server heat to warm buildings or power absorption chillers.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

Implementing a waste heat recovery system brings a host of benefits:

  • Energy Efficiency – Improve overall process efficiency by 10–50%
  • Lower Energy Bills – Reduce dependency on purchased fuel or electricity
  • Emissions Reduction – Cut greenhouse gases and meet sustainability targets
  • Return on Investment – Payback periods often range from 1 to 4 years
  • Increased Competitiveness – Lower operating costs improve your bottom line

Start Utilising Your Waste Heat Today

Whether you’re looking to retrofit an existing facility or optimize a new plant design, our team can help you:

  • Assess your waste heat potential
  • Design and install customized recovery systems
  • Monitor and optimize performance for long-term savings

Let’s turn your waste heat into opportunity.

Please contact a member of our team to schedule a consultation.