The Energy Storage System Association e.V. (BVES) and Messe Düsseldorf are realigning and extending their cooperation in the field of industrial and commercial decarbonisation by focussing on thermal energy storage solutions for industrial waste heat recovery and for the allocation of process heat. Their cooperation resulted in the upcoming industrial trade fair Expo for Decarbonised Industries, ENERGY STORAGE (decarbXpo), from September 20 to 22, in Düsseldorf.
Industrial heat and cold management crucial for energy transition
Successful decarbonisation of industry is a must in order to reach the German federal government’s goal of climate neutrality in 2035. Heat from industrial processes is responsible for more than 60 percent of final energy usage. 27 percent of all CO2 emissions originate from industrial heating or cooling. To reduce these emissions and move towards electricity-based solutions, industrial companies need efficient technologies to generate and store process heat. Thermal energy storage systems provide the necessary energy at the right temperature at the right time.
Modern storage systems for thermal energy cover low, medium and high temperature ranges up to 1,000 degrees Celsius, which makes them usable in all sectors of industry. Even large amounts of waste heat can be captured and used. Thus, these innovative storage systems guarantee a flexible and reliable supply for industrial processes based on renewable energy.
“Flexible coupling of sectors where process heat is concerned only works with storage solutions for thermal energy,” said Dr. Andreas Hauer, member of the BVES steering committee and chairman of ZAE Bayern. “We are facing a great need for further information for industrial users, which we as BVES want to address in cooperation with Messe Düsseldorf.”
To achieve climate neutrality until 2035, the percentage of renewable heat needs to increase rapidly: according to the Federal Environment Agency, it was only 15.2 percent in 2020. At the same time, according to simple calculations, industrial waste heat could cover 46 percent of the domestic heating need in Germany.
Cooperation with seven leading specialist trade fairs for users
The decarbXpo is cooperating with seven leading specialist trade fairs for industry and commerce, which are held at the Düsseldorf location. Messe Düsseldorf thus reaches more than 400,000 professionals from the retail, paper, plastics, metal and glass industries.
“For providers of energy storage systems, there are enormous business opportunities with industrial users, which we address,” said Bernd Jablonowski, Executive Director Trade Fairs at Messe Düsseldorf. “We are observing a change in paradigms, especially with the leaders of their respective industries: Decarbonisation is no longer just an issue for the future – it has arrived at the management level. And this is where people look for concrete solutions.”