Industrial Heat Recovery

Using heat pumps for the sustainable reuse of waste heat

Refrigeration & heating - Industrial Heat Recovery
Successful industrial companies around the globe focus on two key elements in their production process: product optimization and cost reduction. Imagine the synergistic benefits if both could be achieved together while reducing carbon footprint. At GEA, we help customers do just that by providing industrial heat pump technology for their facilities.
Why heat pumps?

Around 60 percent of the total cost of processing is typically linked to energy consumption, so that’s where the greatest cost-reduction potential lies. In addition to providing customized industrial refrigeration solutions, GEA optimizes processing-related water and energy resources to prevent waste heat from being lost to the atmosphere. This saves energy for our customers and reduces their carbon footprint.  

Our customized heat pumps will:

  • Minimize energy consumption
  • Reduce operational costs
  • Lower CO2 footprint
See how it works

Heat pumps are a significant driver in the reduction of CO2 and NOx emissions, especially now that the electricity grid is being increasingly decarbonized through more use of wind and solar energy. In this way, heat pumps can make an impact on the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals.

What does the heat pump do?

A heat pump prevents waste heat from leaving a refrigeration plant by reusing it, and upgrading it to become useful elsewhere in the production process for functions such as:

  • Washing and cleaning water operations
  • Heating water for processing purposes such as pasteurization, blanching and drying
GEA heat pump plant installed at Mars, the Netherlands

GEA heat pump plant installed at Mars, the Netherlands (Photo source: RCC K&L)

Heat pump circuit
Heat pump circuit
Heat pump example

This dairy processing example above illustrates the levels at which sustainable heat may be managed in order to achieve a zero-carbon-emission solution.

Level 1:  Reusing energy that flows directly via heat exchangers. 

Level 2:  Applying a heat pump to elevate the temperature level to a higher value. 

Level 3:  Harvesting solar heat (directly from solar collectors or indirectly from geothermal heat) and applying it directly in the process after a temperature lift with a heat pump.

Heat example
Range of heat pumps

GEA offers a comprehensive array of heat pumps for process industries. We provide state-of-the-art technology and customize our solutions to meet customer requirements, spanning from 300 to 10,000 kW. The key component is the proven high-quality, high-efficiency GEA ammonia screw and piston compressors.

GEA heat pump plant installed at Mars, the Netherlands

GEA's energy-saving heat pump solution for Mars, Inc.

Mars reduces OPEX and carbon footprint with GEA industrial heat pumps. Holistic engineering solutions for food, beverage and dairy processes.

Intermalt

GEA’s energy-saving heat pump solution for Intermalt.

Intermalt reduces OPEX and carbon footprint with GEA industrial heat pumps. Holistic engineering solutions for food, beverage and dairy processes: www.gea.com/industrialrefrigeration

The Cooling Club - Webinars

On-demand webinar

Industrial Heat Recovery

Learn from experts how to decarbonize heating processes and reduce operating costs Language: English
Decarbonizing industry, one heat pump installation at a time

Decarbonizing industry, one heat pump installation at a time

Heat is heat, whether it’s -40 or 140 degrees Celsius. Wasting it leads not only to wasted money, but also increases the carbon footprint of many industrial processes, especially where both heating and cooling are required. Energy-efficient heat pumps are rapidly becoming the technology of choice in the drive for a carbon-neutral future. This technology is helping industry and cities alike meet ever-stricter environmental regulations, achieve their own sustainability targets and reduce operating costs.

Heat pump eCalculator

Try our Heat Pump eCalculator and discover how much you could potentially save with GEA energy-efficient heat pump solution.
Energy Recovery Unit

Energy Recovery Unit

Besides food industries, GEA’s expertise on waste heat recovery also extends to chemical & heavy industries such as Cement, Glass, Iron & Steel, Non Ferrous, Refineries…
Refrigeration & heating - Service

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GEA's Sustainable Engineering Solutions

NEXUS - GEA's Holistic Engineering Solutions

A unique integration of process solutions and cooling & heating demands, resulting in lower energy consumption, minimized operating costs and reduced carbon footprint.
Heat to Cool - Using heat pumps to cool our warming planet

Heat to cool our planet for generations to come

If the ambitious targets set in the historic Paris Agreement are to be achieved, we need to accelerate heat decarbonization and create a better world for our future generations.

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Heat pumps for decarbonizing process and district heating

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