# LLM Context
URL: https://weeg.it/en/energy-solutions-for-businesses/esco/renewable-thermal-plants/

# Renewable thermal plants

> Green Heat is Whitenergy's fully financed ESCo solution for companies that want to decarbonize process heat and reduce costs by replacing conventional natural-gas boilers with renewable thermal generation systems.

## Page details

- **Language:** English
- **Title:** Renewable thermal plants
- **Topic:** High-temperature heat pumps (HT-HP), biomass systems and the Green Heat ESCo service for renewable industrial heat
- **Summary:** Green Heat recovers industrial waste heat and uses renewable electricity or sustainable biomass to produce hot water, superheated water or low-pressure steam. Whitenergy designs, finances, builds, operates and maintains the systems under an ESCo / Energy Performance Contract model.

## A fossil-free alternative to traditional boilers

Green Heat is designed for companies that want to decarbonize process heat and reduce costs without tying up capital. It can replace natural-gas boilers with high-efficiency renewable thermal systems based on high-temperature heat pumps and biomass.

Under the ESCo - EPC Guaranteed Saving formula, Whitenergy finances, designs, builds and operates the system. The service includes:

- Renewable heat production as hot water, superheated water or steam.
- Guaranteed economic savings compared with the pre-intervention situation.
- Access to Energy Efficiency Certificates (TEE).
- Reduced exposure to CO₂ costs, including ETS2, by replacing methane.
- Comprehensive operation and maintenance management and support for incentive and TEE practices.

## How Green Heat works

The Green Heat service uses high-temperature industrial heat pumps to recover low-temperature heat above 50 °C from industrial processes, evaporative towers or refrigeration units. The recovered heat is raised to a useful temperature above 80 °C and can exceed 120 °C for steam production.

The regenerated heat is reused in production processes, reducing or eliminating the need for fossil fuels. The solution can therefore:

- Reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
- Decarbonize industrial thermal processes.
- Provide access to TEE incentives.
- Reduce exposure to incoming ETS2 costs from 2027.

When waste heat is not available, Green Heat can use certified biomass as a primary source or be combined with an internal heat network or renewable PPAs to power the heat pump. The configuration is defined according to the production site and local energy availability.

## Sectors served

### Industrial materials

Green Heat systems can provide renewable industrial heating for plants with high heat demand. Solutions based on HT-HP or biomass heat pumps can reuse waste heat, reduce costs and provide access to TEE incentives.

[Industrial materials sector](https://weeg.it/en/energy-efficiency-and-renewables-for-every-sector/industrial-materials-sector/)

### Chemical and pharmaceutical

Green Heat can support processes that require thermal continuity and medium-to-high temperatures, replacing natural-gas boilers with heat-pump or biomass systems to reduce emissions and improve overall efficiency.

[Chemical and pharmaceutical sector](https://weeg.it/en/energy-efficiency-and-renewables-for-every-sector/chemical-pharmaceutical-sector/)

### Textile

Green Heat systems can provide renewable and constant heat for dyeing, drying and finishing, including heat recovery from machinery and reductions in operating costs.

[Textile sector](https://weeg.it/en/energy-efficiency-and-renewables-for-every-sector/textile-sector/)

### Manufacturing

HT-HP systems can serve complex production lines and industrial processes with low-impact hot water and steam while optimizing energy costs and process-heat management.

[Manufacturing sector](https://weeg.it/en/energy-efficiency-and-renewables-for-every-sector/manufacturing-sector/)

### Food

Green Heat can provide steam and hot water for processing, washing and sanitizing, reducing gas use and improving supply-chain sustainability.

[Food sector](https://weeg.it/en/energy-efficiency-and-renewables-for-every-sector/food-sector/)

### Agricultural

Systems based on biomass or heat pumps can serve greenhouses, dryers and agricultural cooperatives. They can be modular and integrated with refrigeration and air conditioning for product processing and preservation.

[Agricultural sector](https://weeg.it/en/energy-efficiency-and-renewables-for-every-sector/agricultural-sector/)

### Healthcare

Green Heat solutions for hospitals and clinics can provide domestic hot water and space heating, with industrial heat pumps designed for continuous operation and reduced fossil-fuel consumption.

[Health sector](https://weeg.it/en/energy-efficiency-and-renewables-for-every-sector/health-sector/)

### Hospitality

Green Heat systems can provide renewable heating and domestic hot water for hospitality facilities, hotels and large apartment buildings, reducing energy costs and environmental impact.

## Case study: paper mill

The paper mill had high methane consumption for superheated water and low-pressure steam used in paper drying. Whitenergy built a Green Heat plant based on 2.8 MWt high-temperature industrial heat pumps. The system recovers heat from exhaust-air streams and process water at about 55 °C and raises it to 105 °C to serve the drying lines.

The project was developed in ESCo mode through an EPC contract, with a dedicated SPV for financing, technical management and maintenance. The plant uses electricity from renewable sources through a green PPA.

Reported project results include:

| Metric | Result |
|---|---:|
| Estimated economic savings over 10 years | €11.5 million |
| CO₂ emissions reduction | More than 5,200 tonnes/year |
| TEE recognition | 11 years, shared with the customer |
| EPC contract term | 12 years |
| Investment | €2.6 million, fully borne by Whitenergy |

## Case study: dairy company

The dairy company had high methane consumption for process-water heating, washing and sanitizing, together with rising costs and a need to reduce Scope 1 emissions. Whitenergy installed a 1.5 MWt automated biomass plant fuelled by local wood chips, integrated with a 600 kWt HT-HP system that recovers heat from cooling circuits.

The system supplies hot water and steam at 90-120 °C and reduces gas consumption by 85%. The project was implemented under an EPC formula, fully financed and managed by Whitenergy, with remote monitoring and a performance guarantee.

Reported project results include:

| Metric | Result |
|---|---:|
| Overall energy savings | More than 1,800 TOE/year |
| Thermal cost reduction | 35% lower OPEX per year |
| CO₂ avoided | About 4,700 tonnes/year |
| TEE reporting period | 10 years |
| Customer investment | €0 |
| TEE | Shared with the customer |

## Frequently asked questions

### When is Green Heat preferable to a natural-gas boiler?

Green Heat is particularly suited to sites with waste-heat sources or continuous processes with high thermal demand for hot water, superheated water or steam. Its convenience increases where methane and CO₂ costs are high, Scope 1 decarbonization is a target, or the company wants to stabilize thermal costs over the next 10-15 years. Under the ESCo formula, heat-pump or biomass systems can reduce operating costs and emissions without customer CAPEX.

### How does an industrial HT-HP differ from a conventional heat pump?

High Temperature Heat Pumps can operate at 120 °C and above, making them suitable for process heat and low-pressure steam. They use specific refrigerant fluids, industrial compressors and heat recovery from sources such as process water, evaporative towers and refrigeration units. They are intended for industrial applications rather than only comfort heating.

### Can Green Heat be used without waste heat?

Yes. The page states that certified biomass can be used as a primary source, or the system can be combined with an internal heat network or renewable PPAs to power the heat pump.

### Can Green Heat replace gas completely?

In most cases, according to the page, HT-HP systems can cover base and intermediate demand while biomass or hybrid systems cover peak loads. This can reduce gas consumption by up to 90% while maintaining production continuity and operational safety.

## Contact

[Request Green Heat or a free energy consultation](https://weeg.it/en/contact/)