Waste heat mapping: A UK study

Abstract

The following study considers the spatial distribution, grade and seasonal variation of waste-heat from industrial sectors in the United Kingdom in 2018. Opportunities to offset the emissions caused by heat generation through the use of waste-heat recovery schemes have been examined. Reducing heat waste is a key intermediate step in avoiding climate disaster until fully decarbonised industrial practices have been developed and implemented. The findings of this study are presented as a ‘UK waste heat map’. Data containing information on the natural gas consumption of different industries are used as a proxy for waste heat. This report finds that waste heat is concentrated around densely populated areas and areas with a traditionally strong industrial base. Such areas generate a large amount of the waste heat suitable for heat reuse, such as in a district heating scheme. The total waste heat from UK industry and electricity generation is estimated to be nearly 391,000 GWh per year. The data are represented in the accompanying UK waste heat map as point location data and by waste heat per Local Authority. Opportunities have been identified within each major industrial sector to reclaim and utilise this waste heat.