Challenge
For Meco Sauze’s district heating network in Sauze d’Oulx, Trane heat pumps recover low-temperature cogeneration waste heat to increase capacity, improve efficiency and reduce CO₂ emissions.
A high-efficiency waste heat recovery project in Sauze d’Oulx, in the Metropolitan City of Turin, Italy, is demonstrating how district heating operators can unlock more value from existing cogeneration assets. Using Trane heat pump technology, Meco Sauze Srl is capturing low-temperature waste heat and upgrading it for use in its district heating network. Delivered in collaboration with ETS (Ecotermica Servizi), the project is increasing heating capacity, improving overall plant efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
The plant includes three cogeneration sections, each with electrical power of 1,334 kW. To improve system efficiency, one Trane RTWF 125 HE heat pump was installed on each cogeneration engine, enabling low-temperature waste heat to be recovered and upgraded to a usable temperature for district heating distribution.
Meco Sauze wanted to improve the efficiency and sustainability of its existing cogeneration-based district heating plant. Although the facility was already generating electricity and useful heat, part of the available thermal energy from the intercooler remained too low in temperature to be used directly in the network.
The challenge was to recover and upgrade this low-grade heat without compromising the reliability required for district heating operation. Because this was the customer’s first installation of this kind, the project required both proven technology and application support tailored to the site’s operating conditions.
Solution
Working with ETS and Meco Sauze, Trane developed a site-specific solution based on its high-temperature screw heat pump technology. One Trane RTWF 125 HE unit was installed on each cogeneration engine.
The heat pumps recover low-grade energy at approximately 30°C and raise it to around 80°C, the minimum usable temperature required for district heating distribution. Acting as a temperature booster, the units convert previously underused thermal energy into useful heating output for the network.
Because the heat pumps are paired with the cogeneration plant, they can also be powered by electricity generated on site.
Results
Now fully commissioned and operational, the installation is delivering measurable value for Meco Sauze.
Key benefits include:
- increased district heating capacity
- improved overall plant efficiency
- reduced CO₂ emissions for customers served by the network
- stronger use of available energy within the existing plant
- an expected return on investment in less than two years
The project also supports Meco Sauze’s operational and sustainability objectives while strengthening the long-term value of its existing cogeneration infrastructure.
