In a processing plant, product cooling and water heating are often treated as two separate energy demands. Technically, they can be connected: heat rejected by the refrigeration system can become a source of energy for hot water production. This opportunity warrants assessment through measurements before equipment is selected.

Turning rejected heat into a resource

The refrigeration system removes heat from the spaces or products being cooled and rejects it. Heat recovery allows some of this energy to be used in another process.

If the available temperature is too low for the intended application, a heat pump can raise it by consuming electricity. New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, EECA, explicitly identifies meat and dairy processing among the sectors suited to such applications, including integration with refrigeration systems.

The distinction matters: direct heat recovery and the use of a heat pump are different solutions that can work together. Recovering energy does not remove the need for appropriate system sizing and control.

What an industrial project demonstrates

At Hardwick Meatworks in Kyneton, Australia, the project supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency included a heat pump with a thermal capacity of 1 MW, alongside heat recovery from the compressor oil-cooling circuits.

The final report, submitted in June 2025, records that approximately 61% of the energy required to produce process hot water was supplied by these systems: 45% by the heat pump and 16% by heat recovery from the oil circuits. Natural gas continued to provide the additional heating needed to reach the required final temperature. This percentage does not represent a 61% reduction in the plant’s total energy consumption.

Investment starts with the actual demand profile

The first question is when recoverable heat is available and when hot water is needed. EECA explains that thermal storage can help align heating and cooling stages, whose requirements vary throughout the day.

At Hardwick, lower production reduced both hot water demand and system operating hours. The report recommends installing pressure, temperature and flow measurement instruments on the main circuits before implementation to improve sizing and integration.

What a Romanian processing plant should calculate

The economic assessment must compare the useful heat actually delivered, additional electricity consumption, fuel displaced and integration costs. Thermal storage, automation and electrical supply capacity also matter.

The Australian example demonstrates a working application, rather than guaranteed savings at every site. For a processor, a sound decision starts with identifying the demand that can be consistently met and assessing the impact on the entire refrigeration and heating system.

(Photo: AI ENHANCED)