Waste Heat Power

Waste heat power is demonstrating how existing industrial infrastructure can generate carbon-free electricity by capturing energy that would otherwise be lost. Through a partnership between Tallgrass, Kanin Energy, AES Ohio, and the University of Dayton, waste heat from a natural gas compressor station is converted into electricity that meets the university's entire campuswide power demand. The system generates approximately 78,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually while reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 55,000 metric tons each year. Because the approach builds on existing industrial operations, it offers a practical pathway to improve energy efficiency without major changes to core infrastructure.

For energy providers and industrial operators, waste-heat recovery creates an opportunity to unlock additional value from existing assets while supporting decarbonization goals. The model could also be expanded across industries such as refining, cement, steel, and chemicals, where excess heat remains an underused energy resource.

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