What is the Project?
HEVATECH is an innovative start-up created in 2010 that tackles one of the world’s most significant energy challenges. What a waste of energy! Around 50% of global energy consumption is lost as heat – an energy resource that is often overlooked. Despite the high potential for valorizing this residual heat, current technologies impose prohibitive costs, resulting in few concrete realizations. HEVATECH has been dedicated to developing innovative technologies and processes for the valorization of waste heat, initially focusing on heat storage using phase change materials and thermochemistry, and now turning the spotlight on the conversion of waste heat into electricity. The patented TURBOSOL process is at the core of its breakthrough system, which converts heat into electricity for the client’s self-consumption or reinjection into the electrical grid. Simple, robust, and easy to install and operate… industrial processes remain completely undisturbed.
Main Benefit and Key Figures
HEVATECH’s waste heat recovery system offers several compelling benefits, including reducing the payback period by half compared to competing technologies and addressing industrial constraints with economic viability. The project boasts some impressive figures:
- 50% of global energy consumption wasted as heat
- Patent-protected TURBOSOL process for converting heat into electricity
- Significantly reduced payback period through simplicity and robustness
- No need for modifications in existing installations – just an access to exhaust fumes and simple heat exchanger installation
- Potential application across multiple industries including waste incinerators, sewage treatment, heavy industries like cement, glass, and metal processing, as well as power generation
MAEVA: Measurement, Audit, and Study of Energy Valorization
HEVATECH has recently introduced MAEVA, an innovative offer dedicated to the characterization of industrial waste heat. Often, this residual heat is overlooked, yet it holds significant promise to improve competitiveness and reduce carbon emissions. MAEVA operates by analyzing existing data and acquiring new measurements directly from the field. The solution leverages minimally invasive measurement tools and remote monitoring techniques, combined with thorough financial analysis, to precisely characterize the recoverable heat. This complete study unfolds in five clear steps: analysis of existing data, statistical processing and quantification of recoverable heat, evaluation of suitable solutions such as cogeneration or heat/cold production, optimization of the system’s architecture and equipment sizing, and finally assessing costs (CAPEX/OPEX) along with ROI calculation and even exploring financial aid options… all seamlessly integrated to unlock the hidden potential of waste heat.
SUN2P Project and Intermittent Waste Heat
In another noteworthy initiative, HEVATECH has validated the final milestone of the SUN2P project, which received funding from AID (the Innovation Defense Agency). This project brings together an H2P machine and thermal storage developed by Eco-Tech Ceram, with heat intermittently supplied by a solar concentrator. The SUN2P project was designed to demonstrate that it is possible to produce electricity continuously, 24/7, even from an intermittent source like solar energy – all without resorting to conventional batteries, which present their own issues such as sovereignty concerns and environmental pollution. The successful combination of a hot air engine with thermal storage stands as a clear demonstration that intermittent waste heat resources can be harnessed to produce continuous electricity. A particularly exciting aspect of this project is its potential to address a market segment that had previously remained untapped, where it is estimated that approximately 29% of waste heat above 300°C in Europe is intermittent, equivalent to 22 of the 75 TWh recorded in 2023.
Synergy with Eco-Tech Ceram and Technological Innovations
The collaboration with Eco-Tech Ceram in the SUN2P project highlights the synergy between innovative technologies and expert partners. Utilizing a thermal storage system, the project has proven that combining a hot air engine with advanced thermal management can yield a continuous production of electricity from a fluctuating heat source. By eliminating the dependency on conventional batteries, the solution promotes both energy sovereignty and a reduction in battery-related pollution. This cooperative approach not only leverages the strengths of each partner but also paves the way for commercialization to meet industrial demands with technology that seamlessly fits into existing setups.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
Simplified Installation and Versatile Applications
The HEVATECH waste heat recovery system is not only technologically advanced but also highly adaptable. It is designed to be completely transparent for industrial processes since no modifications are required for installation. All that is needed is an access point to exhaust fumes for the installation of heat exchangers. Applications are diverse and far-reaching – from waste and sewage incinerators to heavy industries such as cement production, glass factories, and metal processing plants, as well as to power generation facilities. The simplicity, robustness, and ease of operation of the system ensure that industrial players can introduce this technology without disrupting their current operations. This flexibility and versatility, combined with the environmental benefits and cost effectiveness, make HEVATECH’s solution a promising game-changer in the realm of energy valorization.
