Session: 09-16-02: Energy-Related Multidisciplinary II

Paper Number: 166159

Understanding “Energy Efficiency” Within Industrial Parks 

With the ever-growing need to address the effects of climate change experienced worldwide, various technologies have been proposed to reduce the CO2 footprint of the industrial sector. This transition must be achieved without compromising economic stability or energy security. Industrial operations are concentrated mainly in designated areas, with industrial parks serving as key hubs. Several strategies have been proposed to support decarbonization, including integrating carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, electrification of industrial processes, fostering industrial synergies, and transitioning to low-carbon fuels such as e-fuels and renewable energy sources. However, implementing these solutions will inevitably alter the environmental, economic, and energetic profile of industrial parks.

While numerous studies assess industrial parks' economic and environmental performance, detailed energetic analyses—providing a quantitative metric of energy performance—have received comparatively little attention. Several challenges contribute to this gap, including the limited involvement of energy engineering in defining and applying "energy efficiency" to industrial parks, the frequent misinterpretation of the term in the literature, and confusion with related concepts such as "eco-efficiency," "energy performance," "operational energy performance," and "energy intensity" (or "energy use intensity"). Another key challenge is the limited availability of data required for comprehensive analysis.

This research begins with a bibliometric analysis to explore how "energy efficiency" is understood in academic and industrial publications. Additionally, it examines industrial parks as independent entities and integral components of global energy value chains. The study dissects the meaning of energy efficiency in industrial parks by breaking down its definition into various components. The approach categorically examines energy efficiency at the level of individual building blocks within a park, followed by an overarching definition applicable to the entire park. Furthermore, the study considers how the definition might shift when viewing industrial parks as integral units within global energy value chains.

To illustrate the concept, the research presents a case study on the global ammonia value chain. The well-established nature of this industry provides a stable framework where numerous variables, such as production technology, remain consistent, thereby simplifying the process of tracking and refining the definition of energy efficiency. Additionally, the study explores the concept of "exergetic efficiency" and how it could be defined in the context of industrial parks. By addressing these fundamental questions, the research aims to better understand energy efficiency and its implications for sustainable industrial development.

Ultimately, this study seeks to bridge the gap between theoretical definitions and practical applications of energy efficiency within industrial parks, ensuring that the pursuit of sustainability aligns with economic and energetic viability.

Presenting Author: Amira Korayem Technische Universität Berlin

Presenting Author Biography: Professor Tatiana Morosuk is the head of the department "Exergy-Based Methods for Refrigeration Systems" at Technische Universität Berlin, Germany (since 2013). In 1990, she received her Diploma, in 1994 her Ph.D., and in 2001 the Doctor Habilitatus Degree and Professorship, all in Ukraine. Her research focuses on the development and applications of exergy-based methods to the improvement of the thermodynamic, economic, environmental performance of power generation systems, refrigeration/cryogenic systems, and energy-intensive chemical plants. She supervised/co-supervised 20 Ph.D. and more than 100 M.Sc theses. She published 8 books, more than 400 research papers, and has 10 patents. Tatiana Morosuk is the 36th recipient (and the first female) of the James Harry Potter Gold Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Since July 2022, she is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Energy Resources Technology, ASME digital collection.

Authors:

Tatiana Morosuk Technische Universitat Berlin
Amira Korayem Technische Universität Berlin