Experience shows that a industrial thermal energy system with more than five streams to be heated or cooled becomes complex, posing a challenge to find the best possible configuration to link material streams energetically and still achieve the lowest annual total costs. The Pinch Method applied in this case, allowing for the rapid identification of a sound and economically viable heat exchanger system, upon which more detailed simulations or planning can be based.

For thermal energy systems with large waste heat streams intended for internal or external use, a Pinch Analysis should be conducted. Based on the characteristics of the Composite Curves and the Grand Composite Curve, it can be determined how much waste heat can be used internally and how much can effectively be supplied as true waste heat. In principle, process-integrated heat recovery is preferable to waste heat recovery.

Existing systems can be evaluated using a systematic approach, and adjustments made if feasible. For example, heat exchangers for heat recovery are often not placed correctly within the overall system, leading to increased heating and cooling demands, or heat pumps are incorrectly integrated acting essentially as electric heaters. In addition, waste heat could be input into a district heating network when it be could more sensibly utilized for heat recovery within the process itself.

The Pinch Analysis offers the opportunity to develop energy strategies. Measures derived from the Pinch Analysis can be directly used to develop roadmaps for decarbonization or for the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). The Pinch Analysis makes it evident whether a system is suitable for the use of renewable systems and how these energy sources should be integrated.

In the case of discontinuous systems, it is often not immediately apparent that these systems have greater energy-saving potential. Similar to the Pinch Analysis for continuous systems, energy-saving potentials can be determined for discontinuous systems. In this case, it mainly involves potentials for indirect heat recovery through thermal energy storage. The Pinch Method provides important guidance for the hydraulic integration of storage, dimensioning, and determining optimal storage temperatures.