SciTransfer
SPIRIT · Project

High-Temperature Industrial Heat Pumps for Decarbonizing Food and Paper Production

energyPilotedTRL 7

Imagine a giant radiator that doesn't just warm a room, but captures wasted heat from a factory and boosts it to boiling temperatures. It's like a turbo-charger for heat, turning lukewarm waste into high-pressure steam. This allows factories to stop burning fossil fuels to get the intense heat they need for processing.

By the numbers
160°C
Maximum target heat upgrade temperature
63%
Market potential covered by paper/pulp and food/beverage sectors
30%
Technical performance improvement via advanced working fluids
0.7 MWth
Minimum capacity of full-scale demonstrations
4 MW
Steam production capacity of the second demo
The business problem

What needed solving

Industrial sectors struggle to decarbonize heat demand between 100°C and 200°C because standard heat pumps cannot reach these temperatures efficiently. This forces companies to continue burning fossil fuels to generate necessary process steam.

The solution

What was built

Three full-scale industrial heat pumps (>0.7 MWth) and a set of modular design standards. They also created 'heat as a service' business models and a technical competence framework for staff training.

Audience

Who needs this

Sugar refineriesPulp and paper millsIndustrial shrimp processing plantsEnergy service companies (ESCOs)Industrial HVAC engineers
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Food & Beverage
enterprise
Target: Sugar mill or shrimp processing plant

If you are a food processor dealing with high energy costs for steam — this project developed heat pumps that upgrade waste heat to 135-160°C. This allows you to produce up to 4 MW of steam using existing waste heat, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Paper & Pulp
enterprise
Target: Paper mill

If you are a paper mill dealing with carbon emission targets — this project developed modular heat pump systems that can be integrated into your process. These systems target the 100°C to 200°C temperature range to replace traditional combustion heating.

Industrial Heating Services
mid-size
Target: Energy service company (ESCO)

If you are an energy provider dealing with rigid payment models — this project developed new business models based on 'heat as a service'. This allows you to provide high-temperature heat upgrades to clients without them needing to own the hardware.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What is the cost or price of these systems?

Based on available project data, specific pricing is not listed, but the project uses modular concepts and standard components to make manufacturing cheaper and improve economic performance.

Can this be used at a full industrial scale?

Yes, the project is implementing three full-scale demonstrations with capacities greater than 0.7 MWth, including one system producing 3.5 to 4 MW of steam.

How is the intellectual property or licensing handled?

Based on available project data, the project focuses on developing standard integration methods and business models, but specific licensing terms are not provided.

How easy is it to integrate into an existing factory?

The project is developing standard integration methods and modular designs to allow for easier and more straightforward installation in industrial environments.

What is the timeline for deployment?

The project runs from September 2022 to February 2028, with some commissioning phases for specific demos extending into Fall 2025.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium is heavily industry-driven with 11 industrial partners (61% of the group) and 5 SMEs, indicating a strong focus on commercial viability. With 18 partners across 8 countries, the project leverages a mix of technology suppliers (like GEA and Mayekawa) and end-users, ensuring the technical solutions are grounded in real-world operational needs.

How to reach the team

Contact TNO (Netherlands) for technical integration details

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Request a detailed analysis of the 'Heat as a Service' business models developed by SPIRIT.