Waste Heat Compass for Industrial Waste Heat

June 18, 2026

Source: E & M powernews

The Institute for Energy Technology (IfE) has introduced a “Waste Heat Compass.” The tool is designed to help municipal utilities and local governments better prioritize industrial waste heat projects.

Whether in dairies, mechanical engineering, cement plants, or brickyards, for example, industrial waste heat is considered a key component in the decarbonization of heating networks. However, there are often significant discrepancies between the potential identified in heating plans and the implementation of concrete projects. The Institute for Energy Technology (IfE) at the East Bavarian University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden has therefore developed a “Waste Heat Compass.” The tool is aimed at municipal utilities, heating network operators, and local governments. It is designed to assess the technical and economic viability of industrial waste heat and prioritize projects.

According to the IfE, many municipal heating plans are based on publicly available data from the Waste Heat Platform as well as on information provided by companies. However, an in-depth review of the reported potential often does not take place. At the same time, district heating network operators are under pressure to tap into identified potential. This is where the Waste Heat Compass comes in.

The Waste Heat Compass first validates and evaluates existing data. Subsequently, an IfE team identifies additional potential waste heat suppliers and conducts discussions with the companies’ technical managers. In doing so, the participants examine, among other things, temperature levels, operating modes, and possible feed-in points for heat networks. Optionally, on-site inspections, measurement campaigns, and initial economic feasibility calculations may follow.

According to the institute, the available data often contains gaps. In some cases, information on waste heat potential was missing due to confidentiality concerns. In other cases, companies failed to comply with their reporting obligations or provided only rough estimates of potential. Furthermore, technical information is often stored solely in free-text fields.

Prioritization Instead of a Potential Map

According to the IfE, the result of the process is a prioritized list of projects. The identified sources are divided into three categories. “Go-potentials” are projects that are technically feasible and can be implemented. “Review-potentials” require further investigation, such as through measurements. “Exclusion Potentials” are not pursued further for technical or economic reasons. The institute sees this as an opportunity to reduce planning efforts and allocate resources more effectively.

The IfE estimates that it will take approximately three months to compile the Waste Heat Compass. The scope of the investigations can be expanded on a project-by-project basis. The results are presented in the form of a presentation and, according to the institute, can serve as a basis for policy-making bodies, grant applications, and further planning.

The IfE cites experience from projects in various industries. Its references include both municipal utilities and industrial companies. As examples, the institute cites projects involving the use of process waste heat and heat recovery in production processes.

Among other things, the IfE cites the optimization of a thermal after-combustion system at a Kaufland meat processing plant in Heilbronn as a reference project. A natural gas-fired thermal after-combustion system was installed to treat exhaust air streams from smoking chambers. In addition to internally preheating the exhaust air, additional heat recovery takes place. In this process, the purified gas, which is approximately 335 degrees, is cooled to the 150 degrees required for stack operation. The temperature reduction of 185 degrees enables the provision of approximately 1,110 MWh of heat based on 6,000 operating hours per year. Assuming an efficiency of 90 percent, the natural gas demand based on calorific value decreases by approximately 1,233 MWh per year. CO₂ emissions are consequently reduced by about 248 metric tons annually.

With the Waste Heat Compass, the institute aims to bridge the gap between the potential identified in heat planning and its actual implementation. The focus is on the technical and economic evaluation of individual sources as well as on coordination between industrial companies, municipalities, and district heating network operators.

Author: Heidi Roider