Residual heat from refineries can warm households

Residual heat generated in oil refineries can be captured and used as a valuable source of energy. The excess heat can be fed into an existing pipeline to power other facilities or households in the area. This is exactly what Shell’s refinery in Pernis (Rotterdam, Netherlands) is planning to do – the excess heat available from this refinery will be supplied to the Rotterdam heating network to provide heating for 16.000 households in the area.

The construction works to build an installation that would capture residual heat and connect it to the existing heat network began in 2017 and the first supplies started in September 2018. The use of residual heat will help reduce the CO₂ emissions of this area by 35.000 ton per year.

Associated SDG targets