Energy collaboration between Orcan and Eon, along with Holcim, marks a significant endeavor
The collaboration between Orcan Energy, Holcim, and E.ON Energy Infrastructure Solutions is revolutionizing the cement industry with a large-scale project aimed at harnessing previously unused thermal energy. This groundbreaking initiative is being implemented at the Holcim cement plant in Dotternhausen, Germany.
At the heart of the project is Orcan Energy's new high-performance eP 1000 Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system, specifically developed for large-scale industrial applications. This technology efficiently converts fluctuating heat quantities from the rotary kiln exhaust gases, which are extracted at approximately 70 meters height via a heat exchanger, into electricity.
E.ON, on the other hand, assumes responsibility for the planning, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance of the plant, operating under an energy-as-a-service model. This means that Holcim will benefit from CO2 savings over the entire operating period without any initial investment of its own.
The benefits of the project are substantial. By utilizing waste heat that was previously released unused, the project significantly improves energy efficiency. This reduction in Holcim's Scope 2 carbon emissions also contributes to decarbonization of the cement production process, which is energy-intensive and typically emits substantial CO2.
The project demonstrates how ORC technology can enable scalable, economical, and flexible industrial energy transition. Moreover, the recovered energy will be used for internal processes, heating networks, and electricity generation, with potential to contribute heat to local district heating networks, increasing wider community energy sustainability.
Future plans emphasize establishing this model as cost-effective and scalable for other industries, serving as a blueprint for saving energy and reducing carbon emissions in energy-intensive industrial sectors. Dieter Schillo, Plant Manager Holcim Southern Germany, considers the project an important milestone towards decarbonizing cement production, while Eon CEO Marten Bunnemann sees great potential in using industrial waste heat in highly energy-intensive industries.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK). Orcan Energy, with over 80 employees and headquartered in Munich, already has more than 650 modules in use worldwide with over seven million operating hours. The company sees potential for further projects in the utilization of industrial waste heat.
In conclusion, this collaboration pioneers an innovative and practical approach to industrial decarbonization by converting large-scale industrial waste heat into useful thermal energy and clean electricity, advancing energy transition goals in the cement industry and beyond.
- Orcan Energy's eP 1000 Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system, a high-performance technology specifically designed for large-scale industrial applications, is central to the project at Holcim's cement plant in Dotternhausen, Germany.
- E.ON, in partnership, will oversee the plant's planning, construction, financing, operation, and maintenance, implementing an energy-as-a-service model that allows Holcim to gain CO2 savings without any initial investment.
- The project significantly improves the energy efficiency of the Holcim plant by utilizing waste heat that was previously released unused, contributing to decarbonization efforts and reducing Holcim's Scope 2 carbon emissions.
- The project, funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK), showcases the potential of using ORC technology for industrial energy transition, offering scalable, economical, and flexible solutions that generate clean electricity and thermal energy from waste heat, reducing carbon emissions in energy-intensive sectors like cement production.
