Integration of renewable energy and energy recovery solutions in industries

Since the 1980’s, in the context of increasingly volatile energy costs and growing interest in action on climate change, industries began to progressively improve their energy efficiency and reduce their environmental footprint. However, the deployment of renewable energies and energy recovery technologies (REER) have not made sufficient progress in this sector.

The French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME, Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energy) engaged Enea Consulting and Kerdos Energy to complete a study on this topic. The purpose was to inform industrial companies about the possibilities offered by these technologies. After mapping the available technologies that cover different industrial needs, the study focused on evaluating their strengths and weaknesses against predefined criteria. The study aimed to identify obstacles to overcome and drivers to facilitate their development, while supporting the findings with feedback from real case studies.

Many relatively mature REER technologies exist that can be used for energy production or self-consumption on industrial sites, for both heat and electricity. With the help of support mechanisms (CEE energy saving certificates, Fonds Chaleur subsidies, CRE calls for tender or other tax measures), investing in REER in France can be profitable in the long term in many cases. These projects also make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions and develop a responsible corporate image.

Although REER technologies are not necessarily easy to integrate or operate, the difficulties (technical, contractual, economic) can be overcome. This is clearly demonstrated by the case studies, particularly where REER technologies are associated with conventional solutions. Indeed, while these technologies seem to be implicitly competing with each other, they should really be considered as complementary, as the strengths of some compensate for the weaknesses of others.