Since waste heat recovery often leads to significant fuel savings, CO₂ emissions are often reduced. The primary benefit of lower emissions is of course the positive effects on our environment, but they can have monetary value as well.

Many parts of the world have, or are about to introduce, emissions trading systems (cap and trade), the European Union Emission Trading Scheme being the largest in use.

After implementing waste heat recovery systems, companies may find they have unused emission permits. These can then be sold if the company is operating under a cap and trade system.

In countries without cap and trade systems there may still be possibilities to sell emission permits to other parts of the world through the UN’s flexible mechanisms.

10 MW of recovered heat can be used for saving 350,000 EUR per year in emission costs, assuming:

• Emissions are restricted by a cap and trade system where credits can be sold if emissions are reduced. Alternatively, the country of operation has bilateral agreements or other mechanisms in place making it possible to sell carbon credits.
• 8,400 operating hours per year (350 days)
• The combustion heat of natural gas is approx. 48 MJ/kg equalling approx. 17,500 tons reduced CO2 emissions
• Carbon credits priced at 20 EUR per ton