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Editorial: EU could be powered by recycled heat

Preventing heat waste has largely been ignored as a solution. A new report by the global engineering company Danfoss highlights the potential of excess heat recovery.

“The global energy crisis is a wakeup call to stop wasting energy,” said Toby Morgan, senior manager of built environment at the Climate Group, an environmental not-for-profit. He adds that “we need to make better use of the energy we already produce, we simply can’t afford to let it literally escape out the window. Energy efficiency improvements, like capturing and recycling excess heat, are absolutely critical to lower fossil fuel demand and lower bills.”

Various sources, including supermarkets, transportation networks, data centres and commercial buildings, emit excess heat. Much of this can be harnessed and utilised through existing heat recovery technologies like heat pumps, as well as more efficient air conditioning systems and manufacturing machinery. Further opportunities lie in improved urban planning and district energy systems that rely on networks of renewable energy sources.

The research is led by Brian Vad Mathiesen, a professor in energy planning and renewable energy systems at Aalborg University. According to Vad Mathiesen: “The amount of cities, regions and countries in Europe which waste heat while spending billions on natural gas or electric heating is mind-blowing,” and he warns that Europe’s energy security is at stake.

“Take the Netherlands – there is virtually no district heating even though there is almost twice the amount of waste heat compared to the heat demand. Denmark is the same size but has towards 60% per cent district heating with only one third of the population. The use of waste heat is certainly not connected to technical differences. While the physical laws are the same, the political will and traditions are very different.”

The report highlights the excess heat potential of cities in the EU. On average, 78.8% of the excess heat from these cities could be recovered from their top three sites alone. In Brussels, the top three sites provide 1.3 TWh out of a possible 1.5 TWh. Kim Fausing, CEO of Danfoss stated that the emissions savings and revenue from selling this heat would be significant and that “in Greater London, we have identified at least 648 eligible excess heat sources, including data centres, underground stations, supermarkets, wastewater treatment plants and food production facilities. Why aren’t businesses and local government organisations using these?” Fausing adds that London’s excess heat equated to 9.5 TWh a year, roughly enough to heat 790,000 households.

Reusing excess heat offers incredible opportunities for businesses to reduce their emissions, save money and make money. To rapidly tackle the energy crisis, Vad Mathiesen proposes a heat planning directive that enables local authorities to base their plans on local conditions. This would involve mapping existing waste heat sources in greater detail, then proposing thermal networks that distribute heat more effectively and initiatives that improve energy efficiency in buildings. Energy efficiency improvements are climate-critical and the time for action is now.

Emilia Samuelsson

based on
Report by Danfoss. (2023). The world’s largest untapped energy source: Excess heat. https://www.whyenergyefficiency.com/solutions/allsolutions
and Recapturing excess heat could power most of Europe, say experts, Anna Turns, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/23/recapturing-excess-h... 3924=3424

In this issue

Making the most of waste heat

The total excess heat in the EU covers almost all of the EU’s total energy demand for heat and hot water in residential and service sector buildings. This potential needs to be utilised, especially during these times of energy and climate crises.

Editorial: EU could be powered by recycled heat

Preventing heat waste has largely been ignored as a solution. A new report by the global engineering company Danfoss highlights the potential of excess heat recovery.

Germany shuts down last three nuclear reactors, ending nuclear power era

Germany switched off its last three nuclear reactors on 15 April, marking the end of its nuclear power era.

Global heating threatens northern forests

In the last month, fires have ravaged forests in both Canada and Russia. This is just the latest of many similar examples.

Unlocking the potential of ocean energy

To ensure affordable energy and limit global temperature rise to below 1.5 °C there is an urgent need to transition rapidly from a centralised energy system that heavily relies on fossil fuels. Ocean energy is one of the technologies that should be scaled up to support the transition of the energy system to reach full decarbonisation.

A quantative take on Russian forests

Russia has one fifth of the global forest area. This area has remained relatively constant in recent decades, but clear cutting and wildfires are altering the species composition.

Ocean acidification in the climate negotiations

If ocean acidification was redefined as an effect of climate change, the UNFCCC could interpret its existing framework so that parties were required to take action on the issue.

The forefront of cleaner, people-centred cities

Cities are dense and struggling with high levels of air pollution, sedentary behaviour and noise problems linked to car-centred urban planning. Traffic also takes up large areas in cities, resulting in lack of green spaces, and it is obvious that our oil dependency has fuelled climate change. Three cities with governments that are up for the challenge of re-thinking cities are Paris, Oslo and Barcelona, which are working to transform their cities from car-
centred to people-centred.

The Swedish Greenwashing Prize – more than a decade of ironic awards highlighting misleading claims

Each year, for over a decade, Friends of the Earth Sweden has announced a winner of its Swedish Greenwashing Prize – an ironic booby prize that turns the spotlight on misleading and false claims.

The EU needs to do more to reduce methane emissions

The EU has signed the Global Methane Pledge but action to slash methane emissions in the energy and agriculture sectors is lagging behind. Urgent measures are needed to reduce methane emissions while at the same time much more action is also needed to reduce all other greenhouse gas emissions.

E-fuels are a detour on our way to decarbonisation

It takes four times as much energy to drive a car on e-fuels compared to batteries. In addition, they emit as much air pollution as a car running on fossil fuels.

Green incentives are at the heart as UK rolls out its CAP replacement

Public money for public goods is the principle behind the new Environmental Land Management schemes in England – the jury is still out on whether it can sustain farmers’ livelihoods while also protecting the environment.

Nitrogen deposition threat to 60 per cent of European ecosystems

Most affected are regions with intensive livestock rearing. Scenarios show that both technical measures and a reduction in animal numbers are needed to tackle the problem.

Dramatic vanishing of polar sea ice and ice sheets

Polar sea ice and ice sheets are continuing to melt rapidly according to many new studies. The end-of-winter Arctic sea ice extent in March 2023 was the fifth lowest in the satellite record, while the area of Antarctic sea ice fell to a record low.

Main menu

Editorial: EU could be powered by recycled heat

In this issue

Making the most of waste heat

Editorial: EU could be powered by recycled heat

Germany shuts down last three nuclear reactors, ending nuclear power era

Global heating threatens northern forests

Unlocking the potential of ocean energy

A quantative take on Russian forests

Ocean acidification in the climate negotiations

The forefront of cleaner, people-centred cities

The Swedish Greenwashing Prize – more than a decade of ironic awards highlighting misleading claims

The EU needs to do more to reduce methane emissions

E-fuels are a detour on our way to decarbonisation

Green incentives are at the heart as UK rolls out its CAP replacement

Nitrogen deposition threat to 60 per cent of European ecosystems

Dramatic vanishing of polar sea ice and ice sheets

Publications

Food for Thought

Northern forests, climate change and the UNFCCC

EU climate targets aligned with the Paris agreement’s 1.5°C objective

Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Collaborative-Learning project

Air pollution in Europe and children’s health

Climate Change: A Himalayan Odessey

No further discussion needed. The agreed global goal is to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C

Fossil-free electricity 2021

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