Recycled Energy

Changing Recoverable Heat to Discoverable Power

Recycled Energy :::

Recycled energy is one of the world's best sources for fuel-free, clean and inexpensive energy. According to the United States Department of Energy, there is more waste heat available in the United States than all other sources of renewable energy combined. Employed on a wide scale, recycled energy gleaned from waste heat could generate the equivalent of ninety-two, 500MW gas-fired combined cycle plants without any fuel consumption whatsoever. In particular, the oil and gas industry, stationary engines, coal-fired power plants, geothermal/hydrothermal sources, and industrial processes create enormous amounts of surplus energy that is discharged into the atmosphere in the form of waste heat.

Yet waste heat remains underutilized, understated and virtually ignored by most energy policy makers in Congress. The Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), adopted by all but a few states, promote the use of wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, and small scale hydro, but ignore waste heat entirely. When asked for an explanation, the RPS often answers that waste heat is derived from the combustion of fossil fuels, thus excluding it from consideration as a renewable resource.

At Roughrider Power, we believe waste heat is a renewable resource and an important recycled energy option. Turning waste heat into electricity can reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, improve energy security, and limit our impact on the environment.