Our District Heating Project in Germany's Ruhr Region
What is the TORTE Project?
The Technical Options for Thermal Energy Recovery (TORTE) project captures waste heat generated during isophorone production at our Herne site and makes it available for use in the district heating network serving homes in Gelsenkirchen. The project has the potential to provide recovered thermal energy to up to 1,000 households in the Ruhr region and demonstrates how industrial waste heat can be integrated into local energy infrastructure.
Our Herne site uses a heat pump to transfer industrial waste heat from cooling towers into the district heating network.
Waste Heat Recovery and Energy Efficiency
The Herne site comprises 17 production plants across approximately 250,000 square meters. Chemical production processes generate heat that can be recovered and reused rather than being released unused.
As part of the Herne Green Deal, one initiative focuses on recovering low-temperature waste heat from cooling towers and supplying it to the local district heating network. In collaboration with local energy supplier Uniper, a large-scale heat pump was installed to support this process.
Based on project estimates, the initiative could reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 1,750 metric tons annually compared with alternative heating methods. The project demonstrates how recovered industrial waste heat can contribute to local energy systems while improving overall energy utilization.
Recognition and Awards
In 2023, the TORTE project received the German Chemical Industry Association's "Responsible Care Initiative” award. The award recognized the project's contribution to energy efficiency and the recovery and utilization of industrial waste heat.
Part of the Herne Green Deal
The TORTE project is one of several initiatives within the Herne Green Deal, which focuses on reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency, and evaluating alternatives to fossil-based energy and raw material sources.
Together with other projects at the Herne site, TORTE supports efforts to optimize production processes and infrastructure while contributing to Evonik's long-term climate and resource-efficiency objectives.
Through projects such as TORTE, Evonik continues to invest in technologies that support energy recovery, operational efficiency, and emissions reduction.