Industrial Waste Heat and Hydrogen: A Pathway to Decarbonising through District Heating

Project Description

Heating buildings accounts for a significant share of Ireland's carbon emissions, yet large amounts of useful heat produced by industry are currently wasted. This project investigates how that wasted heat can be captured and reused through district heating networks to provide clean, reliable and affordable heating for homes, businesses and public buildings.

The project will assess the potential to recover waste heat from four key sources in Ireland: hydrogen production, sawmills, industrial manufacturing and data centres. Using real case studies in Galway, Portlaoise, Waterford and Blanchardstown, the research will evaluate the technical performance, costs, carbon savings and commercial viability of connecting these heat sources to local district heating networks.

In parallel, the project will develop the first national map of industrial waste heat recovery potential for Ireland, identifying where waste heat can be economically reused and where future district heating networks could be developed. The findings will provide practical guidance for local authorities, industry, energy developers and policymakers on how to accelerate the rollout of low-carbon heating.

By turning wasted energy into a valuable resource, the project will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve Ireland's energy security, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and support the delivery of national climate targets. The research will provide the evidence needed to unlock investment in district heating and create a scalable pathway for decarbonising heat across Ireland.