Solex hosts energy upcycling webinar
Solex CEO explores opportunities electrification of industries with heat pumps
It's estimated that nearly two-thirds of the total energy used in industrial process is for process heating — that being, the thermal energy used directly in the preparation or treatment of materials used to produce manufactured goods.
This significant energy demand extends beyond individual facilities. An International Renewable Energy Agency report notes heating and cooling accounts for about half of the global final energy consumption, ahead ahead of electricity (20%) and transport (30%), and is responsible for more than 40% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.
Combine this with rising energy costs in many jurisdictions globally and operators are increasingly motivated to find effective solutions that allow them to responsibly manage their energy profile while still improving their operational efficiencies.
On March 5, 2025, Solex Thermal Science CEO Gerald Marinitsch presented to members of a Canadian professional engineering society on opportunities for industrial processors to upcycle this process heating with heat pumps.
In his address to the more than 750 participants who registered for the event, hosted in conjunction with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), Marinitsch noted approximately 35% of energy needs in industrial processes are delivered at a temperature range below 200°C. "In this temperature range and up to 250°C, industrial heat pumps can play an important role for the electrification of the industries."
In principle, a heat pump connects a heat source of low temperature with a heat sink at higher temperature, enabling the energy to be considered "upcycled." In his webinar, Marinitsch took time to explain the basic principles heat pumps, their expected performance, energy consumption, limitations and opportunities. He also provided an understanding of how heat pumps can be applied across the areas of energy recovery and upcycling.
The presentation is available for free to watch. Visit the APEGA website access the recording.
This entry was tagged Energy, and last updated on 2025-3-10