Organized by:Industrial Waste Heat Usage
German-Japanese Expert Workshop
19 - 22 April 2021 (online)

Short report
Background
Both Japan and Germany as fully industrialized countries are equally committed to achieve the goalof Greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050. However, this cannot be reached by substituting fossil fuelswith renewable energies alone. "Efficiency First" is the order of the day, especially in the industrial
sector.
Process heat is required in the industry for the generation of steam for drying processes, galvanizing,
pasteurizing, distilling or thermal separation processes. A high proportion of the energy used is often
lost as unused waste heat at different temperature levels. If this waste heat is made usable, a great
deal of energy can be saved - not only in production itself: the waste heat can also be used inswimming pools, greenhouses, or buildings in the vicinity. While there are already several bestpractice examples in Germany, the potential for municipal heating networks in Japan has hardly
been considered so far.
How can waste heat from industrial plants be used efficiently as process heat or electricity? Whichtechnologies are necessary, which utilization concepts are available? How can heating networks be
set up? These were the questions addressed by the intensive four-day German-Japanese expert
workshop.
The four-day online workshop offered around 50 selected German and Japanese experts fromindustry, research, and administration the opportunity to exchange information on politicalframework conditions, available technologies, exemplary projects in the field of industrial waste
heat utilization and to explore cooperation and business opportunities.
Project examples and innovative technologies from both countries were presented, partly in theform of virtual tours. Open roundtables at the end of each workshop day offered the opportunity
for direct and in-depth exchange and networking.
The event was translated simultaneously into German and Japanese. The cooperation partner on
the Japanese side was the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization(NEDO).

Organized by:

Day 1: Overview of importance and applications on an industrial scale, outlook on municipal
applications
On the first day, representatives of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation
and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Federal Ministry of for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and theJapanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) gave a political overview of theimportance of industrial waste heat utilization for the implementation for climate protection goals
in Germany and Japan.
The program also included overview presentations on the role of waste heat utilization in the heattransition in Germany (Institute for Resource Efficiency and Energy Strategies IREES GmbH), theavailable technologies for waste heat utilization in Japan (NEDO) and successful examples ofmunicipal waste heat utilization in metropolitan and rural regions in Germany (Institute for Future
Energy and Material Flow Systems IZES GmbH).
An open roundtable at the end of the conference asked which political measures would benecessary to promote the increased use of waste heat in Germany and Japan in order to achieve
the self-pledged climate targets.
Take-aways of Day 1:•

In both Germany and Japan, large amounts of energy are still lost as unused waste heat.
Waste heat must be considered as a new source of energy; this is not only a technologicalquestion, but a system and awareness issue.

•Companies have various options for waste heat utilization; for example, they can always
achieve the temperature level required for production/ heating/ air-conditioning throughhigh-efficient heat pumps or cooling absorption.

•

Crucial points are the economic viability and long amortization period. Without funding,companies can hardly be motivated to invest, even though climate protection awareness isincreasing. On the other hand, measures for waste heat utilization have a particularly highfunding efficiency and a high CO2 reduction effect.

•

Japan does not only rely on the proven ‘Toprunner’ program for appliances and components,
but also obliges companies to regularly report and take measures to continuously increaseenergy efficiency.

Organized by:

Day 2: Demand-side thermal management and heat storage technology
The second day was kicked off with a plea from the energy supplier TEPCO for electrification ofindustrial processes and for "green” electricity as an important path to a CO2-neutral industry. Heatpumps are playing a central role in this respect.
Two interesting heat storage materials were presented and discussed: HAS Clay (Takasago ThermalEngineering), which, due to its high adsorption capacity, is suitable for absorbing waste heat fromindustry. If transported by truck, it can provide heat e. g. to swimming pools or similar facilities inthe surrounding area. Further, a microencapsulated latent heat storage material developed by
Hokkaido University was presented, which is suitable for a variety of applications due to its
formability (honeycombs, granules, pellets).
In the Open Roundtable, the advantages and disadvantages as well as possible applications ofmobile and stationary heat storage systems for demand-side heat management were discussed indetail.
Take-aways of Day 2:•

Heat pumps can heat or chill efficiently; due to technological innovations (especially inJapan), there are application possibilities in almost all input and output temperature ranges.

•

However, the relatively high investment costs are an obstacle. Due to the change inawareness in companies (also in Japan), there is a willingness to invest in efficiency andclimate protection.

•

Regarding heat pump technology, there is definitely still COP development potential,
especially in lowering the temperature of heat sinks (e.g. through underfloor heating), lessso in compressor development.

•

Both Takasago Thermal Engineering and Hokkaido University showed great interest incooperating with German institutes and the industry to realize initial test and demonstration
projects in Germany on possible applications of heat storage materials.

•

Possibilities for cooperation lay, for example, in the combination of innovative latent heatstorage systems with Carnot batteries, in the development of thermoelectric generators orin the application opportunities of high-performance heat pumps for low input
temperatures.

Organized by:

Day 3: Project examples from Germany and JapanAs a pioneering example of systematic heat planning, the North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) State
Office for Nature and Environmental Protection presented an energy atlas at the beginning of thethird day. It catalogues industrial heat sources and heat demand throughout NRW and can thus
serve as a basis for waste heat utilization projects. Using the example of a paper factory in Lower
Saxony, the Energy Competence Centre of the Osnabrueck University of Applied Sciences showed
how different scenarios can be developed for waste heat utilization with heat storage, heat pumps
and the combination with wind energy and electricity storage. The idea of the MosEN project is toclose the gap between potentials and utilization possibilities of waste heat through modelling on
potentials and economic efficiency.
The Japanese experts from the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology(AIST) presented the R&D project TherMAT, in which different processes and systems for waste heatstorage and utilization in industrial plants are being investigated. The methods range from hightemperature heat pumps and thermal management for industrial furnaces to newly developed
thermoelectric modules and ORC systems for generating electricity from waste heat. Finally, Evonik
Operation GmbH showed how thermoelectric modules can be manufactured cost-effectively. The
modules can be used for process and radiant waste heat, exhaust heat, heating systems, etc.
The Open Roundtable on the third day dealt with the question of how a circular economy with waste
heat can succeed.
Take-aways of Day 3:•

The topics of heat cadastres, energy neighborhoods and targeted "matching" between heatsources and heat consumers are currently still neglected in Japan. Japan can learn a lot fromthe experiences in Germany.

•

Japan, on the other hand, is a leader in the development of highly innovative materials andtechnology for heat utilization and storage.

•

The development of heat networks is a matter of persuasion; the "matching" between
supply and demand is very important; the "chemistry" between industry, and heat network
operators and heat users must be right; a "caretaker" is often needed to coordinate thedifferent interests; another question that needs to be clarified is how the failure of heat
supplies can be insured.

Organized by:

Day 4: Technologies for heat generation and storage
On this last workshop day, the focus was once again on the heat pump and new trends in waste
heat utilization in the low-temperature range. At the beginning, the European heat pumpassociation AISBL advocated heat pumps as the "anchor technology of the energy transition", butalso showed that some potential areas of application are not yet technologically accessible. The
Japanese Heat Pump and Thermal Storage Technology Centre confirmed that heat pumps could in
principle replace all fossil-fired boilers in the industry in the future and convert "green" electricity
into thermal energy efficiently.
The participants were able to pay a “virtual visit" to two projects of the Japan Electro Heat Centre
via video, in which high-performance heat pumps are used: a chemical factory in Kashima and abrewery in Sendai. Technologies for efficient heat recovery from urban wastewater (UHRIG EnergyGmbH) were presented as well as waste heat utilization in data centers (pilot project by Vattenfall)
and a new type of absorption chiller (Johnson Controls), which can be used from 60°C input
temperature.
In the last Open Roundtable, the German and Japanese experts discussed the question to what
extent industrial heat pumps are the key to utilizing low-temperature waste heat.
Take-aways of Day 4:• Heat pumps are particularly interesting in places where the largest possible share ofelectrical energy from renewable sources is available. Attractive applications are, forexample, if both heating and cooling are needed at the same time or when waste heat andrequired heat/cooling are close to each other (in terms of time and/or location), as shownin the example of the food industry.
•

In Japan as well as in Germany, data centers will develop into an important industrial sector
with great potential for waste heat utilization as an outcome of the advancing digitalization.
This will result in various opportunities for cooperation.

•

Further opportunities for cooperation are in the application opportunities for highperformance heat pumps for low input temperatures, also for refrigeration.

•

Both sides agree that the bilateral exchange should be continued on the occasion of the BMU
symposium on "Industrial waste heat utilization" in autumn 2021.

Organized by:

Program:
Day

Time
(CET)

Time
(JST)

ProgramMon
April 19,2021

8:3011:45

15:3018:45

German-Japan expert workshop Part 1: Energy efficiency andindustrial waste heat in Germany and Japan for CO2 reduction

8:30

15.30

Opening Words: Peter Beck, ECOS GmbH

8:35

15:35

Greeting addresses: Hisashi YOSHIOKA, Director General, Energy
Conservation Department, NEDO; Ann-Sophie Weihe-Feijó,
Division IK III 5 (Climate Protection and Energy Efficiency), Federal
Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Safety BMU

Chair: Dr. Matthias Reckzügel, Hochschule Osnabrück
8:45

15:45

Energy Efficiency in Japan
Ryutaro NAKAYAMA, Assistant Director, Energy Efficiency
Division, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) /Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)

9:00

16:00

Importance of industrial waste heat utilization for the
implementation of climate protection goals in Germany
Dr. Hartmut Versen, Division IIB2, Federal Ministry for Economic
Affairs and Energy BMWi

9:15

16:15

Q&A / Discussion

9:45

16:45

Break

10:05

17:05

Heat transition of the German industry – excess heat as an option
for decarbonisation and flexibilization of energy supply in energy
intensive industries
Dr. Jan Steinbach, IREES GmbH - Institute for Resource Efficiency
and Energy Strategies

10:20

17:20

The Potential of Advanced Heat Technologies, Technology
Developments for Utilizing Waste Heat in Japan
Masanori KOBAYASHI, Director, Energy Conservation Technology
Dept., NEDO

10:35

17:35

Waste heat in the municipal context: Successful examples ofmetropolitan and rural regions
Patrick Hoffmann, IZES gGmbH

10:50

17:50

Q&A / Discussion

Organized by:

Chair: Patrick Hoffmann, IZES gGmbH

Tue
April 20,
2021

11:05

18:05

Open Roundtable
Key Question: Which policies are needed to promote theincreased use of waste heat in Germany and Japan for
accelerated CO2 reduction?
With introductory speech by Nobutaka TAKEO, Director General,of NEDO Representative Office in Europe

11:45

18:45

End

8:3011:00

15:3018:00

German-Japan expert workshop Part 2: Demand Side HeatManagement

8:30

15:30

Opening Words: Peter Beck, ECOS GmbH

Chair: Masanori KOBAYASHI, NEDO
8:35

15:35

Implementation of Carbon Neutral--Electrification, Demand Side Heat Management-Takashi YATABE
Producer, Engineering Strategy unit, Engineering Management
Office, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.

8:50

15:50

Q&A / Discussion

9:05

16:05

Break

9:15

16:15

Development of Adsorption Thermal Storage System Utilizing
Low-temperature Waste Heat【Including a video】
Dr. Masayuki TANINO, Principal Research Engineer,
Research & Development Center, Takasago Thermal Engineering
Co., Ltd.

9:35

16:35

Q&A / Discussion

9:50

16:50

Recent advance on high-temperature latent heat storage
technology based on micro-encapsulated phase change material
Dr. Takahiro NOMURA, Associate Prof., Faculty of Engineering,
Hokkaido University

10:05

17:05

Q&A / Discussion

Chair: Masanori KOBAYASHI, NEDO
10:20

17:20

Open Roundtable

Organized by:

Key Question: Thermal Storage for Demand Side Waste HeatManagement, mobile and stationary, which materials are
already available today?
Wed
April 21,
2021

11:00

18:00

End

8:3011:25

15:3018:25

German-Japan expert workshop Part 3: Project examples(Germany and Japan)

8:30

15:30

Opening Words: Peter Beck, ECOS GmbH

Chair: Dr. Jan Steinbach, IREES GmbH
8:35

15:35

Potential and Use of Industrial Waste Heat in North Rhine
Westphalia – Provision of information in the provincial heatcadasterNils Dering, State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer
Protection (LANUV NRW)

8:50

15:50

Q&A / Discussion

9:05

16:05

Thermal management R&D project for industrial waste heatusage in Japan
Dr. Haruhiko OBARA, Vice-President, Director-General,
Department of Energy and Environment, National Institute ofAdvanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

9:20

16:20

Q&A / Discussion

9:35

16:35

MosEN - Modelling of local cross-sectoral energy systems
Prof. Matthias Reckzuegel, University of Applied Sciences
Osnabrueck / Energy Competence Center ‘Science to Business’

9:50

16:50

Q&A / Discussion

10:05

17:05

Break

10:15

17:15

Heat Recovery with Thermoelectric Modules – New Production
Process for the Production of TEG and applications
Yikalo Tecle, Evonik Operations GmbH

10:30

17:30

Q&A / Discussion

Chair: Dr. Matthias Reckzügel, Hochschule Osnabrück
10:45

17:45

Open Roundtable
Key Question: How can a circular economy for waste heatutilization be realized?

11:25

18:25

End

Organized by:Thu
April 22,2021

8:3012:20

15:3019:20

German-Japan expert workshop Part 4: Industrial heat pumps
for waste heat utilization

8:30

15:30

Opening Words: Peter Beck, ECOS GmbH

Chair: Tetsushiro IWATSUBO, NEDO
8:35

15:35

Closing energy cycles with heat pumps
Thomas Nowak, Secretary General, European Heat Pump
Association (AISBL)

8:50

15:50

Q&A / Discussion

9:00

16:00

Heat pump technologies & Case studies in Japan
Koki WATANABE, Deputy Director, Business Coordination
Department and International & Technical Research Department,
Heat Pump & Thermal Storage Technology Center of Japan

9:15

16:15

Q&A / Discussion

9:25

16:25

High efficient industrial heat pump utilizing waste heat 【Video】<Provided by Japan Electro-Heat Center>

9:35

16:35

Q&A / Discussion

9:45

16:45

Break

10:05

17:05

Heat transition with energy from waste water - The
underestimated potential in the sewer
Rouven Zeus, UHRIG Energie GmbH

10:20

17:20

Q&A / Discussion

10:30

17:30

Heat re-use from data Centers- challenges and opportunities
Dr. Birger Ober, Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance

10:45

17:45

Q&A / Discussion

10:55

17:55

Implementations and case studies of novel heat driven chillers
developed in a NEDO project
Tatsuo Fujii, Chief Engineer, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency
Japan

11:10

18:10

Q&A / Discussion

Chair: Tetsushiro IWATSUBO, NEDO
11:20

18:20

Open Roundtable
Key Question: Industrial Heat Pumps – the key for using lowtemperature waste heat?

Organized by:

11:50

18:50

Closing words, Masanori KOBAYASHI, NEDO

12:00

19:00

End

Organized by:Participant list:
title
Mr.

name
Asahi

first nameTakahirocompany/instituteInternational & Technical Research Department, Heat Pump andThermal Storage Technology Center of Japan

Mr.
Mr.
Mr.

Aydemir
BaduraBeck

Ali
ChristianPeter

Fraunhofer ISI
Westenergie AG
ECOS GmbHMr.
Mr.

Bothmer
DeringStephan
Nils

UHRIG Energie GmbH
Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz
Nordrhein-Westfalen (LANUV NRW)

Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.

Dewaki
Fujii
FujitaGorlovsky
Guo

Masayuki
TatsuoYoichiDmitrij
Junqing

Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Ms.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr. Prof.
Mr.

Hamayashiki
Hanzawa
Henschke
Hoffmann
ImazatoIven
Iwatsubo
Jäger
JensenKaji
KamedaKanao
Kato
KatsumiTsuyoshi
Koki
Klaus
Patrick
ShigenoriFranz W
Tetsushiro
Sarah Maria
Sven
Kenichi
Harukuni
Ryusuke
Yukitaka
Hashimoto

Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDO
Johnson Controls Building Efficiency Japan
Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDO
Johnson Controls Systems & Service GmbH
Material Reasearch & Develpoment Department, Furukawa Co.,Ltd.
Planning Dept., Japan Electro-Heat Center
Representative office in Europe, NEDO
Wirtschaftsförderung Land Brandenburg GmbH (WFBB)IZES gGmbH
International Affairs Department, NEDO
MWIDE NRW
Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDOECOS GmbH
Dürr Systems AG
International Affairs Department, NEDO
Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDO
Nippon Shokubai
Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology
Energy Innovation Center, Central Research Institute of ElectricPower Industry

Mr. Dr.

Kawakami

Yoshiaki

Research & Development Center, Takasago Thermal Engineering
Co., Ltd.

Mr.
Mr.
Mr. Dr.

Kobayashi
Konya
Lee

Masanori
Nobuhiko
Chul-Ho

Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDO
International Affairs Department, NEDO
Research Institute for Energy Conservation, National Institute ofAdvanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)

Ms.

Li

ChunyuMüller Service GmbH

Organized by:Mr.

Maeyama

Hideaki

Ingternational & Technical Research Department, Heat Pump
and Thermal Storage Technology Center of Japan

Mr.
Mr.
Mr.

Matsumura
MeemkenMinouraNobuo
Wilhelm
TadayukiInternational Affairs Department, NEDOECOS GmbH
Thermal Management Materials and Technology Research
Association (TherMAT)

Ms.
Mr.
Mr.
Ms.
Mr. As.
Prof.

Nagasawa
NagataNakayama
NeuselNomuraAsumi
ShigeakiRyutaroLisa
TakahiroInternational Affairs Department, NEDO
Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDO
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE), METI
Fraunhofer ISI
Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University

Mr.

Nowak

ThomasSecretary General
European Heat Pump Association AISBL

Mr. Dr.

Obara

Haruhiko

Vice-President, Director-General, Department of Energy andEnvironment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Scienceand Technology (AIST)
Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance
Smart Community and Energy System Dept., NEDO
Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDO
DENEFF
Hochschule OsnabrückTÜV SÜD
GZR, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science andTechnology (AIST)

Mr.
Ms.
Mr.
Ms.
Mr.
Mr.
Ms.

Dr.

Ober
Ogasawara
Ogawa
Okken
Prof.
Reckzuegel
Dr.-Ing. Sager
Dr.
Saita

BirgerYuka
Takashi
Lisa
Matthias
Jörg
Itoko

Mr.

SasakiToshifumi

Business coordination department, Heat Pump & Thermal
storage technology Center of Japan

Ms.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.

Schilling
SekidoShimadaShuto

Johanna
Tamon
MamoruTakayoshi

ECOS GmbH
Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE), METI
Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDO
Ingternational & Technical Research Department, Heat Pump
and Thermal Storage Technology Center of Japan

Ms. Dr.
Mr. Dr.

Stadlbauer
SteinbachFranziskaJan

OMV Austria
IREES GmbH - Institut für Ressourceneffizienz undEnergiestrategien

Mr.
Mr.
Ms.
Mr.
Mr. Dr.

Stenner
Sue
Suzue
Takeo
TaninoPatrikNoboru
Ayako
Nobutaka
MasayukiEvonik Operations GmbH
Takasago Thermal Engineering Co., Ltd.
Smart Community and Energy System Dept., NEDO
Representative office in Europe, NEDO
Research & Development Center, Takasago Thermal Engineering
Co., Ltd.

Organized by:Mr.
Mr. Dr.

Tecle
ToyodaYikaloShunsuke

Evonik Operations GmbH
Magnetic Materials & Advanced Technology Research
Department, JRCM

Mr.
Mr. Dr.

Urabe
Uto

Wataru
Kozo

Energy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDO
Thermal Management Materials and Technology Research
Association (TherMAT)

Mr. Dr.
Mr.

VersenWatanabe

Hartmut
Koki

BMWi
Business Coordination Department and International & TechnicalResearch Department, Heat Pump & Thermal Storage
Technology Center of Japan

Ms.
Mr.

Weihe-Feijó
YatabeAnn-Sophie
TakashiBMU
Engineering Strategy unit, Engineering Management Office,Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc.

Mr.
Mr.

YoshiokaZeus(private)

HisashiRouvenEnergy Conservation Technology Dept., NEDOUHRIG Energie GmbH
Kyushu Electric Power Company, Incorporated