In the coming weeks, a special project in the field of waste heat utilisation will get underway. Using an innovative conceptual approach, previously unused waste heat is set to provide a threefold benefit.

Back in 2009, SCHWENK made significant investments to optimally utilise the waste heat generated during cement production in the rotary kiln. However, one third of the thermal energy remained unused and, as of today, is released into the environment as warm air. With the implementation of this project, the final third of the thermal energy is now to be returned to the cycle and thus utilised sustainably.

This is made possible by the interaction of several plant components, consisting of a

1. ORC plant (Organic Rankine Cycle) for in-house electricity generation,
2. a drying plant for fuel derived from commercial and municipal waste
3. and a plate heat exchanger in the pump house for the generation of hot water

comprises. In this way, more than 8.5 million kWh of energy and over 13,200 tonnes of CO₂ can be saved annually.

The total project costs amount to 11.47 million euros, with SCHWENK having been awarded a grant of up to 3.971 million euros for the project in a competitive funding process under the “Federal Funding for Energy and Resource Efficiency in Industry” programme.

Through this investment, we are making a sustainable contribution to climate protection through a significant reduction in CO2, a contribution to environmental and nature conservation through the reduction of exhaust air flows, and to resource conservation through the saving of primary fuels.

The start of construction work is scheduled for the coming weeks. Completion of the project is planned for the first quarter of 2025.

We would like to thank all those involved for their support to date and in the future during project implementation, and we look forward to the further work steps as well as the start of commissioning in the coming spring.