Heat recovery in sustainable cities

There is enough waste energy worldwide to heat all buildings, yet waste heat recovery examples are scarce. The best energy is the one not used, and the next best is the one reused. We can repurpose energy from industries and urban sources like data centers, metro stations, supermarkets, and underground mines. This recovered heat can be used locally, such as in space and tap water heating. Additionally, it can be sold for district heating purposes.

Cooled acid turns to district heating

Since 1974 Kemira has, efficient and reliable, been selling energy to the city of Helsingborg.

The best energy is the one not used, and the next best energy is the one reused."

Following a total reconstruction of the cooling system at the Kemira sulphuric acid plant, the temperature of the cooling water has been raised to a level at which it can be used for district heating.

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To keep the global warming target of 1.5 °C alive, we need to triple the installed capacity of renewable energy and double the rate of global energy efficiency improvements by 2030. Use of the excess heat available worldwide will be essential and a great opportunity to achieve this. Only in EU, the available excess energy is expected to surplus 2000 TWh in 2050 which could cover almost the full heat demand for space and tap water heating (Mathiesen 2023).

The excess heat is generated both from industrial processes and urban sources such as wastewater treatment plants, data centres, hospitals, and the metro. New solutions for heat reuse are being deployed every day. However, location, infrastructure, and demand patterns often cause heat to be lost.

• 22 countries in EU could cover more than 50 % of their current energy demand with excess heat.
• Low temperature excess heat from wastewater treatment plants, 442 TWh/year, and data centres, 221 TWh/year, can be lifted with industrial heat pumps to temperature levels suitable to supply the district heating grid.
• By improving the energy efficiency and preparing buildings for low temperature heat distribution we can reduce heat losses in the district heating system and allow utilization of lower grade excess heat sources. In doing so the Coefficient of Performance (COP) of industrial heat pumps are improved even further.
• 30 % of the electricity in hydrogen production is converted to heat. When planning hydrogen plants, the location should be carefully selected to allow heat recovery while providing cooling to the electrolyser.
• Expansion of water-carried systems such as district energy and heat networks will be a crucial enabler to distribute excess heat.
• Fit for 55 package: cities in EU larger than 45 000 citizens will be required to produce a heating and cooling plan with mapping of the available energy to facilitate sector coupling and deployment of essential energy infrastructure.
• When cooling residential and service buildings with individual chillers, heat is produced as a by-product. This heat should be used for tap water heating or used to provide efficient cooling with an absorption chiller.

• 99.9% of data centres’ electricity becomes excess heat. Our technology enables harnessing and reusing it for net-zero energy consumption.
• Alfa Laval has a broad range of contact points to connect energy companies to heat networks and district energy networks.
• With millions of heat exchangers in operation worldwide and an extensive R&D program for heat exchangers, we offer the most reliable solution.
• We have reference units in both industrial and urban excess heat applications to provide heat for district heating.
• All our plate heat exchangers have AHRI certification, ensuring superior thermal performance. Don’t take just our word for it.

• transfer de căldură eficient
• dimensiune compactă
• design flexibil
• ușor de întreținut
• durată de funcționare mai îndelungată

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• Unitate compactă care economisește spațiu
• Cost redus de exploatare datorită eficienței energetice superioare și a intervalelor lungi dintre etapele de service
• Etanșare sigură și fiabilă, fără risc de contaminare încrucișată
• Rezistență la oboseală, presiune și temperatură

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• transfer de căldură eficient; spațiu redus
• fără întreținere, durată de funcționare îndelungată
• brazat la fiecare punct de contact pentru transfer optim de căldură, rezistență la presiune și la căldură
• gamă standard, cu termen de livrare scurt

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• oțel inoxidabil 100%
• asigură un transfer de căldură eficient, cu dimensiuni reduse.
• fără întreținere și cu o durată de funcționare îndelungată.

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Hunting for excess heat

Alfa Laval heat exchangers have been used to recover heat for almost a century. Our energy-efficient solutions support heat reuse in diverse applications, from water and oil-cooled data centres to industrial processes like sulphuric acid plants. Join us in our search for heat-saving opportunities and discover how much you can reduce your energy bill with our solutions.

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The Energy Efficiency Movement

The Energy Efficiency Movement, initiated by ABB, aims to create awareness and foster actionable change as a community. At Alfa Laval, we recognize the importance of working together to scale up energy-efficient solutions. That's why we were the first company to join the movement at COP26. With our extensive network, we can connect key industry players and help pave the way to a net-zero future.

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