The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized Better Climate Challenge and Better Plants Challenge partner General Motors (GM) for its achievements and leadership in decarbonization, energy efficiency, and waste reduction. GM’s Fort Wayne Assembly plant received a 2024 Better Project Award for reducing carbon emissions by 30% through a steam elimination and heat recovery system.
GM eliminated steam usage for comfort heating and freeze protection at its Fort Wayne Assembly Plant by transitioning from a large, natural gas-fired steam system to a combined heat and power solution. The new system uses heat exchangers to recover waste heat from pre-existing landfill gas powered generators onsite. This recovered heat is sufficient to provide more than 80% of the site’s building heating needs while reducing natural gas usage onsite. As a result of this work, GM reduced site natural gas usage and associated carbon emissions by 30%, contributing to its Better Climate Challenge Goal Achievement in 2023. GM is evaluating other sites where this solution can be replicated as part of an additional Better Plants goal to reduce energy use by 25% across 33 facilities.
- Read the full Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Progress Alert
- Read more about the visit on the Beat Blog.