Converting Waste Heat into Electricity: The Start-up Enogia and IFP Energies nouvelles Join Forces to Develop an Innovative Range of Mini Electric Power Plants

PARIS, April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

The start-up Enogia (http://www.enogia.com) and IFP Energies nouvelles (http://www.IFPEN.fr) have just agreed a strategic partnership deal concerning the joint development and marketing of a range of Rankine technologies to convert heat into electricity. The innovation is based on the use of highly efficient micro-turbines capable of producing 5 to 100 kW of electricity. The aim is to recover waste heat from the exhaust gases of internal combustion engines in both stationary installations (generators, cogeneration installations) and transport, particularly rail and maritime. 

Created in 2009 by four young engineers, the start-up Enogia specializes in ORC (Organic Rankine Cycle) systems converting waste heat into electricity. Central to their operation is a highly innovative micro-turbine that serves as a power plant, designed and manufactured by Enogia. The start-up is a world leader in the field of low-power turbines (from 5 kW). Enogia has already achieved commercial success with its recently launched range of products designed to improve the efficiency of generators, particularly among farmers (methanization units), both in France and abroad.

Today, Enogia will use its partnership with IFPEN as a springboard to help it achieve a new ambition: to extend the power range of its turbines (up to 100 kW) and address the needs of the transport market. IFPEN is lending its scientific and technical support to optimize the system's architecture in order to further boost its efficiency. The system will make it possible to recover heat from exhaust gases and/or cooling systems in all types of IC engines (diesel, gas, biogas, gasoline), from 100 kW to 1 MW.

The technology is aimed at two types of markets:

-Cogeneration systems and generators. Enogia technology will make it possible to produce an additional 5 to 10% of electricity.

-River, naval and rail transport and, in the longer term, heavy-duty vehicles and coaches. Recovering heat from exhaust gases will cut fuel consumption by 5 to 10%.

In these two markets, Enogia and IFPEN are among the first to propose a range of highly reliable and competitively priced ORC products available for various integration levels (self-standing module or to be integrated). Pilot units are in the process of being installed at industrial and research sites.

Contacts:  

Enogia
Arthur Leroux
Tel:+33(0)9 51 53 79 09
arthur.leroux@enogia.com 

IFPEN
Anne-Laure de Marignan
Tel:+33(0)1 47 52 62 07
anne-laure.de-marignan@ifpen.fr