Thermal cooling using low-temperature waste heat: a cost-effective way for industrial companies to improve energy efficiency?

The characteristics of energy-efficiency measures – a neglected dimension

“…Recycling industrial waste heat for cooling is an option to reduce energy consumption in industry. Modern closed absorption and adsorption chillers promise an acceptable performance with driving temperatures below 100°C and thus reduce the electricity demand needed for cooling (Schall, Hirzel 2012).…”

“…While the technical characteristics favor adoption, the others indicate a low adoption rate. This is also reflected in the current rate of adoption: A recent survey of the German market (Schall, Hirzel 2012) indicated that there are just over 1000 units of installed closed absorption and adsorption chillers below 100 kW and that their market share is less than 1%.…”

IEA SHC Task 48 - A4 activity final report - Final Report on Pumps Efficiency and Adaptability

“…This investigation had been performed in the EU-Project ROCOCO [3] for medium cooling capacities between 70 -180 kW and could be confirmed by several other projects as well. Although heat transfer fluid circuit installation contributes to the overall SHC system costs in a large part, the single investment for pumps itself account for less than 5 % in general as shown exemplary in Figure 5 or described for another 5 thermal cooling installations by D. Schall, S. Hirzel [4].…”