Technically unavoidable waste heat from industrial processes can become an important part of the heat transition. However, the waste heat potential can change over time due to process conversions and energy efficiency measures in the context of the energy transition and economic development.
In the analysis “Perspectives for the Integration of Waste Heat into the Heat Supply in NRW”, a team from the Institute of Energy Economics at the University of Cologne (EWI) examines the use and potential of waste heat with a focus on North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in two parts. In the first part, waste heat is reviewed from a regulatory, technical, and economic point of view. For this purpose, the development of the regulatory framework is presented, and a list of criteria for waste heat utilization is developed. The second part deals with the sector-specific analysis of existing industrial waste heat potentials and new waste heat potentials in NRW.
According to the “Industrial Waste Heat Potential Study” of the State Office for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia (LANUV) from 2019, the theoretical waste heat potential amounts to approx. 88 to 96 TWh/a. In addition, there is new waste heat potential from electrolyzers or data centers. The theoretical waste heat potential for electrolyzers was estimated to be 0.63 TWh/a in 2030. According to the results of this analysis, the total waste heat potential in NRW could decrease.
