Harnessing waste heat could save Europe US$71bil

Recycling heat: People look at a liquefied natural gas cargo vessel at Barcelona’s port. Boosting efficiency is viewed as essential for Europe as it moves towards a more secure, and more green, energy network. — Reuters

LONDON: Europe’s industries and transportation systems waste so much heat that capturing the excess and reusing it could save consumers more than €67bil (US$71bil or RM317bil), a Danish engineering company says.

The surplus produced each year by factories, supermarkets, wastewater facilities, data centres and subways amounts to 2,860 terawatt-hours, nearly the same as the European Union’s total demand for heat and hot water in residential and service-sector buildings, Danfoss Energy said.