Heat recovery
Heat recovery re-uses what would otherwise be wasted heat, and turns it into productive energy. In a heat recovery process waste heat can be taken from one part of the plant and used for another part of the production process. That means less energy is needed overall, which saves costs and improves productivity.
Many New Zealand businesses are benefiting from valuable savings that heat recovery brings. Often the return on investment in heat recovery starts at 18 months - and the energy savings and emissions reductions are ongoing.
Heat recovery exchangers are used in many processes, including:
- food processing
- refrigeration
- wine-making
- almost anywhere where there is a need for large amounts of heat and hot water.
Heat recovery in action
Read examples of New Zealand businesses benefiting from heat recovery:
- Tegel Foods Limited installed a combined heat recovery system that recovers waste heat from the ammonia refrigeration system and a compressed air system.
- Southern Lakes Laundries installed a heat exchanger for its main industrial washing machine – saving up to $45,000 per year.
- Clive Scouring installed a heat exchanger to use waste heat from its chimney to pre-heat incoming water.
- St Helena installed a chilled water plant complete with two heat exchangers.
- Craggy Range installed a heat recovery system which was financed through an energy performance contract.
- New Zealand businesses are warming to heat recovery.
More information
- Heat recovery applications guide - understand where the most common opportunities are.
