Heat makes up half of the global energy we use, accounting for 40% of CO2 emissions as a result. Our scale-up Kraftblock is providing solutions to decarbonize heat in industries and district heating, both major sectors that still rely heavily on fossil fuels. With Kraftbock's most recent project, they are taking things a step further: They developed a mobile heat storage unit that makes it possible to easily move thermal energy from A to B.
New to Kraftblock? Here’s all you need to know in 5 bullet points!
Connecting excess production and demand for heat
Sometimes, factories and power plants generate excess heat that isn't used because they're not connected to a district heating network or the distance to its application is too far. Consequently, a large amount of energy is wasted through their chimneys, especially for small and medium-scale power plants such as those using biomass or natural gas. Kraftblock constructed a storage system designed for a truck that transports excess heat from various sources to locations where it can be utilized.
Buhck Gruppe, a German waste recycling firm, operates a combined heat and power plant (CHP) outside of Hamburg. The heat emitted by the plant's motor is lost at a temperature of about 450°C, which is valuable heat that can replace fossil fuels in other processes. Kraftblock and Buhck collaborated to harness this heat. The pilot has been operating on streets near the city since April 2023.
Buhk Gruppe earlier shared this about the project’s impact:
"With the project, we achieve up to 100% savings on fossil fuels, no waste of precious heat, reduction of CO2 and protection of the environment.”
How it works
Step 1: Heat capture
The flue gases of the waste heat source are directed into the Kraftblock storage unit instead of going through the chimney system. In the case of the Buhck project, this is the off gas from an engine to produce power and heat. In a normal container used on the streets, up to 4 MWh can be stored.
Step 2: Undocking and loading of container
Step 3: Unloading and connecting
Step 4: Return logistics
Impact on the environment & new business models
Buhck uses the Kraftblock solution for multiple purposes. It is currently being used to dry out large construction sites that would otherwise rely on fossil fuel-fired heat generators. It is also utilized in a production facility and for regular heating. Through this solution, Buhck can establish unique business models and acquire new customers, while conserving fossil fuels and curbing their emissions.
Next steps
The collaboration with Buhk Gruppe is not the only project that Kraftblock is working on.
An EU-funded project will finish this year, which uses flare gases from the steel industry as an energy source. Heat emissions from burned gases will be transported to Kraftblock's production hall to provide energy. Temperatures of up to 1,300°C will be tested. The project is considered a likely game-changer in the steel industry by using storage to time-shift heat from flare gases for their processes.