Waste heat recovery for power generation (WHRPG) in energy intensive industries by means of ORC is technically feasible. WHRPG plants with ORC technology are operating in the cement, steel and glass industry and in the natural gas transmission and storage sector.

An evaluation of the potential electricity generation with this technology was carried out at European level. Industrial processes considered are: clinker production in the cement industry, Electric Arc Furnaces (EAF) and reheating furnaces for hotrolling mills in the steel industry, flat glass furnaces and gas turbines in gas transmission and storage sector.

It has been estimated a theoretical potential of about 2.5 GW of ORC gross power. The heat source is provided by the industrial process, whose operating hours depend on the market fluctuations. Considering 8 000 operating hours a year, ORC plants can generate almost 20 TWh of electric energy.

This value represents the 4.8% of the total electricity consumption of EU industry in 2009 and implies avoided emissions of almost 7.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide. Moreover, ORC manufacturer are developing waste heat recovery projects in other industrial processes, particularly in metallurgy.