Instructions for the mapping of waste heat potentials were developed within the Interreg CE project CE-HEAT (see Instructions for a waste heat cadastre creation based on CE-HEAT cadastre development process – available under Waste_Heat_Cadastre_Development_Guide.pdf). The application of the methodology described there - as summarised below is still recommended.
The guide serves as a practical manual for organizations developing waste heat or broader energy cadastres with the following main objectives:
- Facilitate the matching of waste heat supply with energy demand.
- Support investors in identifying opportunities for heat recovery networks.
- Raise awareness among policymakers and the public about the potential of waste heat.
Waste heat mapping is intended to achieve the following key results:
- Improved visibility of waste heat potential.
- Enhanced cooperation between industry, government, and energy planners.
- Contribution to regional energy efficiency and sustainability strategies.
To reach established stakeholders across the energy and environmental sectors, waste heat cadastres should be integrated into existing regional or national energy cadastres. The aim should be to combine energy data into one accessible system for analysis and planning purposes. Therefore, interoperability for GIS data processing is essential. To ensure data sharing and compatibility between regional and national cadastres, the guide recommends using a uniform data export structure with two tables in CSV, Excel or JSON format.
Waste heat data
The data required for estimating and mapping waste heat potentials can be obtained directly from companies or calculated based on emission data using the formulas presented below (if no better information is available).
The collection of the following essential data is recommended in connection with waste heat:
Key data about the company (company name, website, contact person if applicable, industrial sector - using NACE codes, …)
Total available waste heat (MWh/year) from all plant sources
Medium type (air, liquid, solid)
Temperature (°C)
Heat power (kW)
can be calculated using flow rate, temperature, and specific heat capacity by the following formula
where: reference temperature T0 = Ta = 25 °C,
specific heat capacity cp air = 0,281 Wh/kg K, c water = 1,163 Wh/kg K,
flow ?̇ provided in m3/h
Potential energy (maximum available amount of waste heat in kWh/year), derived from heat power times operating hours (according to release profile) or the following formula
Release profile (hours per year) – load profile for the available waste heat (weekend operation?) – e.g. 24 hours per day, 8 hours per day, …
Reference date for data collection
