An estimated 30-50% of industrial energy input is lost as waste heat from exhaust gases, cooling systems, and radiation. Industrial sectors like steel, cement, glass manufacturing, oil refineries, and chemicals have significant potential for waste heat recovery. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), recovering this waste heat could provide 200-500 gigawatts (GW) of power.

Waste heat recovery is underutilized despite its potential due to a lack of incentives, awareness, and consistent global policies. Many industries, particularly in developing regions, encounter barriers like high upfront costs and limited technology access, and there are no unified rewards for adopting sustainable practices.

Key Issues:

• Lack of Incentives: Industries are not financially motivated to invest in waste heat recovery technologies.

• Technology Gaps: High costs and limited access to advanced waste heat recovery devices.

• Policy Disparities: Uneven implementation of worldwide carbon offset and energy efficiency programs.