In Italy, cogeneration technology major Gruppo AB (AB) and compatriot Turboden S.p.A., a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group company, have announced the signing of a strategic commercial partnership agreement to develop and promote innovative energy efficiency solutions, with a focus on the Italian market.
The agreement combines the expertise of AB — an Italian multinational operating in the energy sustainability sector, specialising in the design, manufacture, and sales of energy efficiency solutions, from cogeneration to biogas and biomethane (aka renewable natural gas – RNG) — with Turboden technological expertise in turbomachinery, applied to the development of Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) systems for thermal efficiency.
The agreement includes the supply of AB cogeneration plants integrated with Turboden MVR systems to new customers, and implementation of energy efficiency upgrades on existing industrial plants.
Valorise residual heat
The developed solution enables further valorisation of the heat generated by cogeneration engines, whether in the form of exhaust gases or cooling water (jacket water), by converting it into steam for use in industrial processes.
Thanks to integration with MVR systems, steam production can exceed five tonnes per hour per cogeneration unit, depending on the plant configuration.
The integration of MVR systems allows for an increase in the steam quantity produced and improves its operating conditions, enabling pressures above 10 bar(a) and meeting higher thermal demands than those covered by traditional cogeneration systems alone.
The solutions developed can be applied both to existing plants — through retrofit works aimed at increasing their efficiency — and to new plants designed with an integrated approach from the initial phase.
This approach not only increases overall energy efficiency but, above all, enhances the availability of steam for industrial processes, a factor that is often critical in energy-intensive sectors.
Energy-efficient solutions
AB, leveraging a broad installed base in the industrial and agricultural sectors, had identified the need to further improve the energy performance of its plants by optimising the use of the heat generated and offering end customers increasingly advanced solutions.
This collaboration with Turboden represents a further step in the evolution of our solutions, integrating complementary technologies to improve the energy efficiency of industrial cogeneration plants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, commented Enrico Calzavacca, Deputy General Manager and Chief Technology Innovation Officer at AB.
In this context, Turboden has contributed its expertise in adapting and integrating MVR technologies, providing flexible, modular, and easily replicable solutions.
The synergy between two Brescia-based companies with a strong international presence demonstrates how it is possible to develop practical technologies for decarbonisation, minimising primary energy consumption and responding to an ever-growing demand for sustainable solutions, particularly in energy-intensive sectors where reducing fossil gas consumption is challenging, Enrico Calzavacca said.
Reduce carbon emissions
Key benefits include: a significant reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, increased energy efficiency through heat recovery, lower operating costs, and better alignment with sustainability targets and decarbonisation regulations.
In particular, given that the steam generated via MVR replaces that produced by gas-fired boilers, over 5,000 tonnes of CO2 per year can be avoided per plant, depending on operating conditions.
The solutions developed as part of the collaboration are designed to be flexible, scalable, and adaptable to different types of plants, with particular reference to industrial processes requiring steam.
This initiative represents a concrete example of how existing technologies can be integrated in innovative ways to generate new value, whilst strengthening the role of Italian companies in developing sustainable solutions and providing a replicable model for the domestic market.
The agreement with AB stems from a strong shared vision, combining a deep-rooted presence in the local community with a concrete commitment to decarbonisation and energy efficiency. The synergy between cogeneration and vapour recompression systems enables us to develop and offer integrated solutions for heat electrification, increasing the availability of useful thermal energy and sustainably optimising the energy requirements — both electrical and thermal — of industrial customers, commented Paolo Bertuzzi, CEO & Managing Director of Turboden.
