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The generation of sustainable heat

The energy transition is, in fact, a heat transition, as more than 50 % of end-use energy consumption is heat and around 40 % of global carbon emissions come from heat generation. Heat pumps are a powerful solution to decarbonize heat production, not only for single homes, but also for large-scale applications. 

At MAN Energy Solutions, we supply industrial high-temperature heat pumps for district heating as well as for the process industry to supply sustainable heating and drive the heat transition.

280
°C
Maximum temperature that can be supplied by MAN heat pumps
0
CO2 emissions from a heat pump running on renewable energy
25000
households can be provided with zero-emission heat by a 60 MW heat pump solution

Decarbonize your business with MAN heat pumps

Heat pumps play a crucial role in the journey towards sustainable heat supply solutions for both businesses and communities. By eliminating the need to burn fossil fuels for heating and cooling, they instead use the potential of various heat sources, including lakes, rivers, seawater, wastewater, industrial waste heat, geothermal energy, and ambient air. Alternatively, heat pumps can be powered by electricity derived from renewable sources, ensuring a completely carbon-neutral heat supply.

When choosing the MAN heat pump system, you gain access to the most advanced large-scale heat pump technology available. A heat pump extracts heat from a low-temperature source like water, air, or waste heat from machinery, amplifies it to a useful high temperature, and transfers it to where it is needed. The principle is based on a closed-loop refrigerant cycle with compression and expansion of the fluid, and can be operated in both directions to deliver heating or cooling.  Powered by renewable electricity, the heat pump can supply carbon-neutral heating or cooling.

Find the right heat pump for your application

Our industrial heat pump solutions make efficient use of manifold heat sources. Running on green electricity, they have virtually zero emissions. In addition, we concentrate on eco-friendly coolants. These large-scale heat pumps are comprised of compressors, expanders, and companders. 

MAN heat pumps can be used in versatile ways and tailored to the special needs of customers: The temperature supply range of 60 - 280°C is suitable for heating water and liquids, process and district heating, or steam production. The power output ranges from 10 megawatts thermal (MWth) to above 90 MWth per heat pump unit. Higher outputs can be achieved with several heat pumps in parallel operation.
Learn more about our heat pumps

Heat pumps for industrial use at a glance

Applications

Chemical Industry

Scalability and modularity make heat pumps suitable for many applications:

  • Process industries (including chemicals, petrochemicals, metal, food & beverages, paper, wood, rubber & plastic, textile, machinery & equipment) can enjoy cost-efficient carbon-neutral energy for industrial processes that require intensive heat, cold, and electricity.
  • Municipal, urban, and large facilities can provide district heating and warm water for urban quarters, small towns, and large facilities like airports, universities or shopping malls.
  • Data centers can reduce CO2 emissions and electricity costs with a direct supply of cooling energy. Participating in the power markets opens up new revenue streams.
  • Power producers and utilities can balance the supply and demand of renewable energy while providing hot and cold thermal energy.

Requirements

industrial heat pump rendering

Heat pumps require a heat source in addition to electricity from a grid. The external heat source provides the energy to generate the thermal power output – which is many times higher than the electrical power input. To achieve performance, water or other liquid energy sources are utilized. Oceans, rivers, or lakes can all serve as such a source.

The entire process becomes even more efficient and environmentally friendly when industrial waste heat is used. When available, geothermal energy is also a good heat source. The system is scalable, site-independent, has a minimal environmental impact, and can be tailor-made for specific applications.

Compressor expertise

Industrial heat pump rendering Vattenfall

The heart of the heat pump is the compressor. We have decades of experience in developing compressors for the most demanding conditions. Our wide range of designs ensures we can tailor each pump to the customer’s specific power, temperature, and space requirements.

Our high-temperature heat pumps bring the economic and climate-friendly benefits of domestic heat pumps to large-scale industrial applications. To ensure a process steam supply, we can offer a combined heat pump / vapor compressor or a separate vapor compressor skid that provides the required process conditions.

A single enormous heat pump for an entire city: green heat for the Danish city Esbjerg

A single MAN heat pump solution has the potential to decarbonize an entire city by supplying climate-neutral heat via its district heating network – without the need to install various small-scale heat pumps in each single home. Here’s how we already make it a reality: 

The Danish port city Esbjerg aims to become carbon-neutral by 2030 and is transforming major infrastructure to achieve this goal. The city will decarbonize its district heating supply using heat pump technology from MAN Energy Solutions to replace a coal-fired system.  

MAN Energy Solutions has supplied an industrial heat pump solution which will supply 280,000 MWh of green heat to overall 100,000 inhabitants via the city’s district heating network – annually saving 120,000 tons of CO2 emissions

Learn more

  • MAN heat pumps

    Esbjerg heat pump reference case

    The Danish utility DIN Forsyning commissioned MAN Energy Solutions to supply a turnkey technology solution for district heat generation, featuring two heat pump systems. 

    Download reference case

  • Industrial heat pumps

    Do you want to rethink your economic and eco-friendly way?

    Our heat pumps provide a solution for decarbonized heat and cold production that is economic and eco-friendly, scalable and efficient. This white paper is aimed to provide readers with basic knowledge on the current energy market and technologies an insight about the principle of Carnot Batteries.

     Download study

News about industrial heat pump solutions

Frequently asked questions

Why are industrial heat pumps relevant to the industry?

When we talk about climate change, the focus often falls on electricity generation, but heating and cooling account for almost 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. The sector is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels and is at the beginning of its decarbonization journey. Heat pumps, instead of burning fossil fuels, make efficient use of heat sources such as lakes, rivers, sea, wastewater, industrial waste heat, as well as geothermal or ambient air. Another option is to use electricity from renewable resources to drive the heat pumps, which makes the heat supply completely carbon-neutral

What are the challenges for the technology?

Most of the challenges are economic. Though heat pumps require an initial investment, their value comes from capturing the energy that would otherwise be wasted or has to be produced separately. The profitability is directly related to the temperature of the heat being used — the lower the temperature, the higher the profitability. Heat pumps have specific needs in order to effectively couple sectors. Among the most important requirements is the proximity to a reservoir that can absorb heat, usually a large body of water.

What is the expected lifespan of an industrial heat pump?

On average, well-maintained heat pumps can last anywhere 30 years or more. Proper maintenance, including routine inspections, can help extend the heat pump’s lifespan and ensure it continues to perform efficiently.

How do I find the right capacity or size for my application?

Selecting the appropriate capacity of an industrial heat pump is crucial to ensure it meets the specific needs of your application. Factors to consider include the size of the space to be heated or cooled, the required temperature range, the available heat source, and the heating or cooling load. An oversized or undersized system can lead to inefficiency and increased operating costs. Do not hesitate to contact us for consultation!

How do I ensure optimal performance of my heat pump for industrial use?

To maintain the optimal performance of an industrial heat pump, regular maintenance is essential. This includes scheduling routine inspections, cleaning filters and heat exchangers, checking for refrigerant leaks, and ensuring that all components are in good working condition. Additionally, monitoring the system's energy consumption and performance can help identify issues early and optimize its operation. 

Strategic expertise for global sustainability

Beyond industrial heat pumps, a vital component of our future technologies collection, we provide digitalization solutions and core products made to last. With our profound expertise across these domains, we are guiding the way toward a more sustainable future.