Environmental Impact Assessment of Heat Recovery Systems
Taking a circular economy approach, we carried out an environmental impact assessment integrated with eco-design concepts during the design phase of our technological solutions. This approach delivers further environmental and socio-economic benefits, with wider applicability to all infrastructure projects.
A life cycle approach using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, has been applied to investigate the environmental impacts (burden) and benefits of installing water heat recovery systems in commercial kitchens and in distilleries. An LCA takes into account all burdens – emissions or resource use – arising during the life of a product or service. This starts with the extraction of raw materials, includes the use of the product and ends with its disposal or recycling. Not only carbon emissions contributing to climate change can be assessed, but many other environmental impacts, too.
Results from the LCA study on commercial kitchen drain water heat recovery were translated into a calculator which can estimate the individual potential of a kitchen to save heat, energy and costs.
Environmental impacts and benefits of heat recovery in kitchens
A study has been conducted on how to sustainably recover heat from drain water in commercial kitchens, based on experience gained at the Penrhyn Castle demonstration site.
Recovering heat from water and by-products in distilleries
Distilleries are excellent locations to study the recovery of heat and the reuse of water as they have considerable heating requirements for mashing and distillations and use great volumes of water, e.g. for cooling.