Evonik receives Energy Efficiency Award 2021 for waste heat project

• Award from German Energy Agency in category “Think Big! Complex Energy Transition Projects”
• Waste heat from AEROSIL® plant heats apartments in Rheinfelden
• Savings of 10,000 tons of CO₂ per year

Rheinfelden/Berlin. The German Energy Agency (dena) has presented Evonik and the southern Baden energy supplier Energiedienst with the “Energy Efficiency Award 2021” for their joint waste heat project at Evonik’s Rheinfelden production site. The jury recognized the project’s lighthouse character in using industrial waste heat to heat living space and generate electricity.

“We as the jury were particularly impressed by this project’s holistic approach. A lot of players pulled together here,” explained dena as the reason for honoring Evonik and Energiedienst in the category “Think Big! Complex Energy Transition Projects.” For Evonik’s production site in Rheinfelden as well as for its waste heat-emitting AEROSIL® plant, the award is an important sign that they are on the right track when it comes to sustainability. “We approach sustainability holistically,” says Dr. Claudine Mollenkopf, head of the Silica business line. “Utilizing all the waste heat from our production processes is not only good for the environment, it’s also good for our customers and our company. Our customers already frequently obtain a sustainability advantage with our products, and optimizing the use of heat is another important milestone on the way to reducing our carbon footprint.”

The cooperation between Evonik and Energiedienst is based on the 95 °C water produced during the manufacture of silica in Evonik’s AEROSIL® plant. Pyrogenic silicas are used in industrial applications such as silicones, coatings, adhesives, and sealants. In 2021 alone, Evonik’s waste heat has been used to provide climate-neutral heating and hot water for up to 10,000 homes in the surrounding area via pipe bridges and underground pipelines. Evonik had already been using some of the process heat internally: for example, to heat preliminary production stages or buildings on-site. Yet the remaining waste heat had previously remained unused. By releasing heat output of 5 megawatts, up to 10,000 metric tons of CO₂ can now be saved each year.

“Evonik has set itself the goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 50 percent by 2025. As a production site, we are making an important contribution,” explains site manager Dr. Olaf Breuer. To attain this goal, a number of ideas and measures for greater sustainability have been developed at the site. “The waste heat project is certainly an outstanding example of our commitment. We are very pleased to have now also received an award from dena for it.”