Waste Heat to Power is a source of clean energy that captures energy as heat and converts it into valuable electricity. This can be done through a variety of different technologies including Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), Steam Rankine Cycle (SRC), Supercritical CO2 systems, and others. Kanin, as expert Waste Heat to Power project developer will evaluate the waste heat resource and match it with the most appropriate technology. While waste heat is ubiquitous, waste heat from industrial processes provides the best use for Waste Heat to Power because of the regularity of the heat source and relatively high temperatures of exhaust to make projects viable.

Combined Heat and Power and Waste Heat to Power both use conversion technologies like Organic Rankine Cycle technology to generate electricity; however, there are critical differences that distinguish each system. Unlike CHP, WHP does not require fuel for generating. Instead, Waste Heat to Power integrates at the end of an industrial process, also known as the ‘bottoming cycle,’ where it captures waste heat for conversion into electricity. Because there are no incremental emissions in a Waste Heat to Power system, it is a clean source of baseload electricity.

Waste Heat to Power systems typically use waste heat from a single industrial process to generate electricity, while cogeneration systems typically use waste heat to produce both electricity and heat for use in the same facility. Waste Heat to Power systems are focused on generating electricity, while cogeneration systems focus on providing on-site heat and power for a facility. From an economic perspective, Waste Heat to Power are well-suited for retrofitting onto existing processes, while cogeneration is not. Waste Heat to Power systems are typically eligible for renewable energy incentives and credits, while cogeneration is often excluded.

Waste Heat to Power is carbon-free because there are no incremental emissions in its production of electricity. In using exhaust heat from existing thermal processes, a Waste Heat to Power system does not generate emissions and instead offsets the need to generate additional electricity, which in many cases has a carbon fuel source.

Baseload electricity is readily available power that can meet the requirements of an electricity grid at any time of day. In contrast, intermittent electricity is power that is not continuously available. Wind and solar energy are examples of intermittent electricity generation because while they complement each other, on their own they are only able to generate when there are sun and wind available. Waste Heat to Power from industrial processes generates baseload electricity because the processes it connects to are in operation continuously. In electricity markets, clean baseload power is a valuable component of the power mix for utilities decarbonizing their grids.

Kanin is technologically agnostic. We use the best available technology based on our evaluation of the waste heat resource at the host site. Kanin is intimately familiar with all major ORC, SRC, and Supercritical CO₂ technology vendors & this ensures your site will be matched with the most appropriate technology. We are always evaluating and adopting emerging technologies too!

There are no costs to the host facility. Kanin finances, develops, and manages the Waste Heat to Power systems deployed to sites, and provides industrials with electricity or an additional revenue stream depending on circumstances.

It depends; the smallest applications can be as small as a spare bedroom with the largest as big as a city block. The determining factor for size is the nature of the heat source, its temperature, and its flow rate. Kanin considers these along with other factors when it sizes a Waste Heat to Power system and selects an appropriate working fluid for most efficient use. A hotter source or higher flow rate typically translates into a larger Waste Heat to Power system with greater generation capacity.

There are over 100 working fluids used worldwide. The choice of fluid depends on the temperature and nature of the heat source. Typical fluids utilized are pentanes, for lower temperatures, and various butanes.

There is no impact or potential impact on the existing industrial process, therefore, there is no risk to the client process. For example, any additional back pressure added to a turbine exhaust by Kanin’s heat exchanger will be mitigated by installing an induced draft fan (if required). The systems utilized are relatively low pressure, field-proven, and have been deployed for many years.

The site equipment will immediately revert to the previous operation for exhaust before the Waste Heat to Power system was installed.

Kanin is responsible for any repairs or maintenance that would be required for the Waste Heat to Power equipment. Every 5 years the system gets inspected with a maximum week turnaround.

Kanin utilizes an innovative business model that works with the host facility in an Energy-as-a-service (EaaS) agreement to pay facilities for their waste heat.  

While 100kW installations of waste heat recovery do exist, the viable project minimum for Kanin starts in the 4-5 MW range and can lead up as high as the waste heat results will allow.

Visual inspections can typically be incorporated into the rounds of the current operators. Kanin will compensate for any additional workload taken on by the company. Kanin also provides the option to completely and independently manage the WHP system. Additionally, Kanin coordinates remote monitoring and preventative maintenance on a 24/7 basis.

We do not remove carbon from the atmosphere absolutely; however, we are considered a clean power generation source because there are no incremental emissions in the production of electricity through a Waste Heat to Power system. The average project avoids (or reduces) CO2 emissions by ~35,000 metric tonnes per year. Waste Heat to Power systems work by decreasing scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. Scope 1 emissions are emissions from sources that an organisation owns or controls directly. Scope 2 emissions are emissions that a company causes indirectly when the energy it purchases and uses is produced.