Energy news from Ireland
New engine technology that generates electricity from an often overlooked source – waste hot water – could reduce energy consumption for thousands of homes and businesses in Ireland, while also cutting harmful carbon emissions.
High-efficiency engine turns waste hot water into electricity © EXERGYN
Factories, power plants, data centres and cargo ships release waste heat that could be a useful source of energy. Finding an efficient and cost-effective way to capture and use this waste heat can lead to both significant fuel savings and reduced CO2 emissions. There are methods to harvest both high-grade and low-grade waste heat (below 100 ºC) but efficiency drops and cost increases as temperatures dip.