Energy Machines has upgraded Sandvik Coromant’s energy system at their factory in Katowice, Poland. The upgrade replaces standalone chillers with a centralized system that reuses waste heat from machine production operations and integrates geothermal energy storage for enhanced efficiency.
Location: Katowice, Poland
Sector: Manufacturing
Project type: BTES Integrated Energy System
Borehole quantity: 33 boreholes (4,620 meters in total)
Heating capacity: 450 kW
Heating delivery: 770 MWh/year
Cooling capacity: 400 kW
Cooling delivery: 920 MWh/year
Energy consumption reduction: 90% reduction in natural gas and 35% reduction in electricity – even after electrifying all energy operations
CO2e savings: 45% reduction in annual operational CO2e
Energy Machines is proud to have contributed to enhancing energy efficiency at Sandvik Coromant's metal tool factory in Katowice, Poland, through two projects aimed at reducing energy costs, lowering the factory's carbon footprint, and improving the indoor environment.
In 2018, Energy Machines conducted an energy audit and upgraded the factory's cooling system from standalone chillers to a central cooling system capable of reusing waste heat. Energy Machines provided design and installation support, commissioning a combined heat pump-chiller, integrating the systems, and connecting to heat recovery from air handling units, process cooling, and compressed air. System performance is continuously monitored via EM Cloud, our cloud-based SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system.
Since implementing the new energy system, Sandvik Coromant's electricity usage has decreased by 35% and natural gas usage by 90%.
Following this success, Sandvik Coromant was inspired to further enhance energy savings and reduce their carbon footprint by incorporating geothermal energy storage. This involved creating an energy reservoir using 33 boreholes, each 140 meters deep, drilled next to the building.
Energy Machines' modular approach to energy system design allowed for the seamless integration of geothermal storage into the existing system. This approach ensures efficient scaling, commissioning, and high-performance operation.
The system, commissioned in October 2023, achieves an annual COP of 4.5 – 4.8 times more efficient than typical gas-based systems – while recuding 180,000m³ of natural gas consumption annually. All chillers have been removed, reducing O&M costs and improving air quality.
Sandvik’s annual energy usage has decreased by 35% and CO₂ emissions by 45%, primarily due to the energy system upgrades, alongside complementary energy efficiency measures such as LED lighting and improved building insulation. Annual energy costs have dropped by approximately €150,000.
For more information about this project or similar inquiries, contact Thomas Göransson at thomas.goransson@energymachines.com.
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