Luxinnovation is organising the workshop “Waste heat recovery and valorisation in industrial processes” on 26 March in Belval. Charles-Albert Florentin, Cluster Manager – CleanTech at Luxinnovation gives an overview of the event and the thematic challenges involved.
Mr. Florentin, what do we mean by “waste heat”?
It is thermal energy that is indirectly produced by an industrial process but is neither recovered nor valorised. This can be found, for example, in cooling water, in air conditioning systems, or in the vapors and fumes released by industrial furnaces, boilers, or incinerators.
Is this energy really lost?
If nothing is done to valorise it, yes, it is truly lost. However, it is entirely possible to give this additional heat a new lease of life, which can lead to enormous gains in terms of energy efficiency and profitability, while reducing environmental impact and making industrial operations more sustainable.
For example, captured heat, using heat exchangers, cogeneration systems, or other technologies, can simply be reused by the heat producer, redirected to other industrial processes, or reused in electricity production or heating and water systems.
What will the Workshop on 26 March offer?
It will provide a comprehensive overview of what this “waste heat” is, its sources, and the value it can bring, as well as the tremendous potential for recovery in industrial environments.
We will welcome several mainly local speakers who will present case studies on waste heat recovery installations, suitable equipment, as well as financing and subsidy opportunities available to Luxembourg companies.
After a networking lunch allowing everyone to meet potential partners, we also plan a visit to an ArcelorMittal’s industrial site which will also provide insights into certain processes on a larger scale.”