Analysis of industrial waste heat potential used for novel thermally driven sorption chiller concepts the RE WITCH project

The industrial sector in the EU, accounting for 25.1% of final energy consumption in 2022, requires significant efforts to achieve decarbonization, as only 10.1% of its fuel consumption comes from renewables. Thermal processes, consuming two-thirds of industrial energy, present opportunities for renewable energy integration and waste heat utilization. The RE-WITCH project addresses these challenges by developing and implementing innovative thermally driven cooling solutions across four industrial sites in Poland, Spain, Greece, and Italy. Each demo case demonstrates unique waste heat characteristics and cooling demands, utilizing adsorption and absorption chillers. For example, waste heat from brewery processes, food processing systems, CHP units in biofuel production, and air compressors in paper manufacturing is harnessed. Preliminary energy analysis highlights varying waste heat capacities (85-550 kW) and operational schedules. The project promotes energy efficiency, primary energy savings, and GHG reduction, contributing to the broader adoption of renewable cooling solutions in industry.