Upgrade waste heat to high-temperature hot water and steam for district heating and industrial processes. 500kW to 40MW capacity, output temperatures up to 95°C from Type I and up to 160°C from Type II heat pumps.
Thermax absorption heat pumps lift low-grade waste heat from flue gas condensation from waste incineration, biomass boiler plants, CHP plants or industrial process to produce high-temperature hot water for district heating networks or industrial applications.
Our heat pump technology enables facilities to recover and upgrade thermal energy that would otherwise be rejected to the atmosphere — achieving dramatic energy savings, carbon emission reductions, and improved overall system efficiency.
Comprehensive absorption heat pump portfolio covering Type I heat pumps for heat amplification, Type II heat transformers for temperature boosting, and combined heat pump-chiller systems for simultaneous heating and cooling.
Single-effect steam or hot water driven heat amplification
Type I absorption heat pumps extract heat from low-temperature waste sources and deliver it at medium temperatures using high-grade driving energy. Thermax heat pumps utilize steam, hot water, exhaust gas, fuel, or any combination of these sources to achieve temperature lifts of 30-55°C — producing hot water for district heating, process heating, or boiler feedwater preheating.
Thermally-driven temperature upgrading without external energy
Type II absorption heat transformers upgrade medium-temperature waste heat to higher useful temperatures without requiring external high-grade energy input. Unlike Type I heat pumps, heat transformers operate in reverse mode — using an absorption cycle driven entirely by the heat source itself. Approximately 50% of the input heat is revalued to a higher temperature, making them ideal for industrial process heat recovery where abundant waste heat is available.
Simultaneous heating and cooling from single unit
Thermax heat pump-chiller combination systems provide both heating and cooling outputs simultaneously — maximizing energy utilization and system efficiency. During winter operation, the unit functions in heat pump mode to supply district heating or process heat. During summer, it switches to chilling mode for air conditioning or process cooling. Year-round operation ensures excellent return on investment and continuous waste heat utilization regardless of seasonal heating/cooling demand.
In a landmark achievement for sustainable district heating, Thermax installed three THP S1 H2 single-effect steam-fired heat pumps (each 16MW capacity) at Hamburg's Borsigstraße waste-to-energy plant in 2021.
This pioneering project dramatically increases the efficiency of heat generation from waste incineration, supplying nearly 10% of Hamburg's district heating needs while saving over 104,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
The installation was recognized with the prestigious German Renewables Award 2021, positioning the project as one of Europe's leading examples of waste heat recovery for urban heating networks.
State officials and Hamburg's environmental authority praised the project as a major contribution to the city's climate goals and heat transition strategy.
Absorption heat pumps deliver compelling environmental and economic benefits — transforming waste heat into revenue while advancing sustainability goals and reducing carbon footprint.
Recover and upgrade thermal energy from industrial processes, CHP plants, waste incineration, or geothermal sources that would otherwise be rejected. Transform waste into a valuable resource.
Monetize waste heat by supplying thermal energy to district heating operators, adjacent facilities, or internal processes. Create new income streams while reducing primary fuel consumption.
Displace fossil fuel boilers in district heating systems or industrial processes. Achieve significant CO₂ savings that contribute to corporate sustainability targets and climate commitments.
Unlike compression heat pumps, absorption systems require only minimal electricity for pumping and controls. Ideal for facilities seeking to reduce grid electricity dependency.
Increase overall facility energy efficiency to 80-90% when integrated with CHP systems. Achieve faster return on investment through energy cost savings and improved productivity.
Thermax absorption heat pumps operate successfully worldwide — from European district heating networks to industrial facilities across 90+ countries. ISO 9001 certified, backed by decades of expertise.
Thermax absorption heat pumps serve diverse sectors — from municipal district heating to industrial process heating, waste-to-energy plants to commercial facilities.
Supply 55-95°C hot water for urban heating from waste incineration or industrial waste heat
Upgrade low-grade waste heat for process applications, steam generation, drying operations
Recover heat from flue gas condensation and waste incineration for district heating supply
Process heat recovery, waste heat upgrading, steam generation from low-temperature sources
Year-round heating and cooling, hot water supply, combined heat pump-chiller operation
Upgrade geothermal energy from 30°C to 85°C for district heating distribution
Recover heat from treated wastewater, sludge drying processes, digester gas CHP exhaust
Hospital heating, hot water supply, combined heating and cooling for year-round comfort
An absorption heat pump upgrades low-grade waste heat from flue gas condensation, waste incineration, biomass plants, CHP plants or industrial processes into high-temperature hot water for district heating and industrial use. Thermax units deliver 500kW to 40MW with output up to 160C and COP up to 1.75.
A Type I absorption heat pump amplifies heat using high-grade driving energy, delivering large heat output at up to 95C. A Type II heat transformer upgrades medium-temperature waste heat to higher temperatures (up to 160C) using only the heat source itself, with no external high-grade energy input.
At Hamburg's Borsigstrasse waste-to-energy plant, Thermax installed three THP S1 H2 single-effect steam-fired heat pumps in 2021. The project saves over 104,000 tonnes of CO2 annually, supplies nearly 10% of Hamburg's district heating, and won the German Renewables Award 2021.
Our engineering team will analyze your waste heat sources and thermal requirements to design the optimal absorption heat pump solution — maximizing energy recovery and return on investment.
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