Supsan, which is a Borusan Group company, saves energy by recovering waste heat generated during production, reduces carbon emissions, and contributes to sustainability. The "Waste Heat Recovery Project" is a strong example of the transition to a circular economy in industry.
Türkiye's largest valve manufacturer, Supsan, has taken an important sustainability step to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions by recovering the waste heat that is generated in the compressors used in its production processes. The Waste Heat Recovery Project, which was launched in 2024, has been fully aligned with Borusan Group's 2030 sustainability strategy by creating tangible impacts in environmental, financial, and social dimensions.
While only 30% of the electricity that was consumed by the compressors was converted into compressed air before the project, the remaining 70% was converted into heat and released into the atmosphere. With this project, the waste heat has been recycled in heat exchanger systems to heat the hot water used in production processes, and the natural gas consumption has been reduced. Thus, environmental impacts were also minimized, while energy efficiency has been achieved.
Within the scope of the project, during the period of February-December 2024, a 9% saving in natural gas consumption was achieved, and approximately 49 tons of carbon dioxide emissions were prevented by this way. While these gains enabled Supsan to reduce its carbon footprint, they contribute to the Borusan Group's goal of carbon neutrality. Also, a 17% annual financial saving was achieved, and the payback period of the project has been determined to be one and a half years.
The project, which has a direct impact in the field of "Energy Management", and it also supports the "Circular Economy" approach. Recycling waste heat presents a model that will be an example to the industry for the efficient use of resources. The project has the characteristic of being the first application in this field at Supsan, and it also qualifies as a generalizable solution for other companies in the industry that use compressed air.
For the sake of ensuring the project's feasibility, Supsan conducted detailed feasibility, engineering, and layout studies by obtaining an analysis report from a company which is specialized in energy management. The success that is obtained with the system integrated into two compressors in the initial phase has pioneered to new project ideas towards recycling waste heat in various areas. As the second phase of the project, converting waste heat into electricity is being worked on.
This innovative project by Supsan has not been limited to technical and environmental benefits, but also increased awareness of energy efficiency and carbon footprint among employees.
Thus, it has contributed to the further reinforcing of the sustainability culture within the organization.
Celebrating its 55th anniversary, Supsan provided a model example with its "Waste Heat Recovery Project" that provides energy savings, cost advantages, and environmental impacts, and it stands out as a strong reflection of Borusan Group's “i3” sustainability approach, focusing on "Climate", "People", and "Innovation".