Optimise Academy

Course Summary:

Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist (TERT) is a professional training to develop more global experts in thermal energy recovery system based on Pinch Technology.  Participants from this course are awarded competency certification based on the level of completion.  Be among the pioneers and expert in thermal energy for processes, differentiating yourself from other energy auditors which focusses only on utility system audit.  Pinch Technology is known to save energy between 15 to 90%, in comparison to utility audit which only saves up to 30%.  The technology also commonly provides an attractive payback period of fewer than three years, as compared to the renewable energy system. 

For TERT Level 2 competency, participants are exposed to more advanced Pinch Technology techniques to optimise capital and operating cost of the thermal energy recovery system, further recovery potential from process modification analysis, combined heat and power system integration and analysis, retrofit analysis and exploring multiple sites energy exchange potential. Participants need to submit the completed excel calculation as proof they have mastered the competency.

Past Projects:

The industrial sector accounts for about one-third of the global energy consumption, with up to 50% of energy ultimately lost in the form of waste heat in hot exhaust gases, in cooling water, and on heated surfaces and products [US Department of Energy]. Recovery of thermal energy from waste heat presents the biggest cost-saving opportunity for energy efficiency improvement in the industrial sector.

1. USD 12.8 million/year on energy savings by Retrofit of Heat Recovery System (Refinery)
2. USD 4.1 million/year on energy savings by Total Site Heat Integration Retrofit Study (Middle Distillate)
3. USD 0.75 million/year on energy and water recovery savings (Oleochemical)

Course Objectives

1. Understand the importance of heat exchanger network retrofit.
2. Apply the steps to perform heat exchanger network retrofit.
3. Perform economic analysis and cost-benefit analysis for heat exchanger network design.
4. Perform retrofit case study.
5. Understand the basic concept of process modification.
6. Understand the combined heat & power system.
7. Understand the concept of total site heat integration.

Reasons to Join:

If you are an energy manager, energy auditor, or energy service company.

1. Equip yourself as a TERT to manage thermal energy. The anticipated enactment of the Malaysia Energy Efficiency & Conservation Act (EECA) shall unlock opportunities for energy managers with the competency to audit, manage, and optimize thermal energy systems apart from electrical energy.
2. Gain competency to perform practical retrofit of existing facilities. Learn from certified experts and practitioners on how to perform optimal thermal energy recovery analysis to retrofit existing facilities practically, and gain the support of top management to achieve triple bottom-line benefits.
3. Offer value-added energy audit services for the ASEAN community. If you are an energy auditor, you will be able to offer value-added energy audit services to your customer by incorporating thermal energy recovery of the process. You can also offer energy audit services under the newly announced Energy Audit Conditional Grant (EACG) which supports energy auditing of both electrical and thermal energy. Widespread and holistic implementation of Energy Management System cover­ing thermal and electrical energy in the region is expected to significantly increase the demand for thermal energy analysis experts in Malaysia and across ASEAN.

If thermal energy is the leading energy cost in your manufacturing site.

1. Huge potential reduction in energy bills from thermal heat recovery. Over 7000 successful process integration applications worldwide, including our project experiences have resulted in thermal energy savings of between 10 to 50%, and a payback period of less than 3 years. Our recent petroleum refinery retrofit project for example amassed an annual savings of USD 12 Million.
2. “We already have heat recovery systems in place. How could we benefit more?’’ Our experience shows that plant renovation, plant expansion, the addition of new product lines, consideration of total site, and area-wide integration could lead to ample energy cost-saving potentials.

Training Flow

There are four levels of the Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist (TERT) Certification program. TERT Level 1 is a workshop session aimed at providing participants with the ‘Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist “User Level” recognition upon successful completion of the module.  

Next, TERT Level 2 is aimed at upskilling participants on the advanced Process Integration based on Pinch Analysis techniques to maximise energy savings. Level 2 modules include integration of combined heat and power systems, implementing process changes, manufacturing site-wide analysis and retrofit of existing heat exchanger networks. Passing this module will qualify participants for the ‘Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist – Level 2: Advanced’ expertise.

Participants who completed the Advanced TERT module will have the chance to be a Certified TERT Expert by completing TERT Level 3.  Participants shall need to complete a set of assignment and pass a qualifying exam for the ‘Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist – Level 3: Expert’ certification.

Finally, participants will have the chance to promote themselves to the level of an industrial practitioner by completing a real-life industrial process integration project.  Upon successful completion of the project, participants are required to submit the project report to be verified by the company manager. Participants will finally undergo a competency-based interview to communicate their experiences as a proof the acquired competency.  Successful completion of this level will earn them ‘Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist – TERT Level 4: Industrial Practitioner’ Certification.

For more info on each course level, kindly click on the respective link below.

1. Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist – Level 1: User
2. Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist – Level 2: Advanced
3. Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist – Level 3: Expert
4. Thermal Energy Recovery Technologist – Level 4: Industrial Practitioner