Energy Efficiency

In view of recent agreements in the climate treaties and the European Energy Efficiency Directive, which aims to achieve 20% energy savings in Europe by 2020, the target for the Netherlands is a cumulative energy saving in final consumption of 480 PJ in the period 2014-2020.

In order to meet these objectives, innovations in energy efficiency are necessary. TNO develops knowledge and technology for energy-efficient innovations in industrial processes.

Research programme

The TNO SPT expertise group focuses on heat and process technology whereby attention is geared to: 

• Reuse, transport and storage of residual heat
• Membrane separations for liquids and gases
• Sorption techniques for liquid and gas separation
• Treatment and upgrading of gases
• Intensification of production processes for (bulk) chemicals
• Use of residual flows such as CO₂ as a raw material for chemicals
• Production of hydrogen for different applications

For the implementation of these solutions, TNO works together with suppliers of raw materials, contractors, engineering firms, machine builders, installation companies and a range of large end users.

Solutions from TNO

TNO focuses on technological innovation to reduce the total energy consumption in your business process, leading to a more sustainable process, lower energy consumption and lower operational costs. TNO does this in various ways, such as: 

• More efficient use of energy
• More efficient use of raw materials
• Development of more efficient separation methods
• Reduction of unwanted by-products
• Improvement of product yield and quality
• Transition to sustainable products
• Screening of different components

More about this work can be found in the following program lines

• Roadmap 'Towards a CO2 neutral Industry' – prog/lijn 'Industrial heat'
• Roadmap 'Towards a CO2 neutral Industry' – prog/lijn 'Energy and Cicularity'
• Roadmap 'Towards a CO2 neutral Industry' – prog/lijn 'Elektrification'
• Roadmap 'Towards a CO2 neutral Industry' – prog/lijn 'CCU, CCS'