Answer the two questions about the group presentation in a maximum of 1300 words.
Question 1: Could you please explain how you achieve your low-price strategy?
Question 2: Could you please elaborate on how you could reduce negative side effects (externalities) of your value creation process and thus improve the contribution of your business to a sustainable society? Describe the contribution of the business idea presented by your group and its potential for improvement. Note 1: You do not need to consider whether your measures jeopardise the profitability of your company. Note 2: You can be but do not have to be inspired by learnings from lecture 1.
Criterion: Development of a convincing argument for a strategy (100%), including:• demonstrating a deep and comprehensive understanding of the strategy• demonstrating strategic thinking (e.g., why selected goals, how to achieve these goals,• realistic (e.g., from a financial perspective)
2• Creative (e.g., creative problem solving, adds to existing approaches to these challenges something new)• clear, consistent, well-structured, and understandable
Notes:
Financials
• Building a thermoelectric generator (TEG) system that generates electricity from a hotel HVAC system, the overall building costs could range from
approximately $20,000 to $200,000 or more, depending on the size, complexity, and specific requirements of the project.
• + installation and maintenance costs
• + salaries
• Start-up grants / VC / Sales income
General
• When there is a temperature difference between two sides of a thermoelectric material, it induces a voltage across the material, generating electricity.
• TEGs involves capturing waste heat from various sources, such as industrial processes, vehicle exhaust, or even the human body, and converting it into useful
electrical power.
• This process can improve energy efficiency by utilising waste heat that would otherwise be lost, reducing overall energy consumption and greenhouse gas
emissions.
Challenges in general
• Optimising efficiency, reducing costs, and scaling up production for widespread adoption.
—> Advancements in TEG technology and decreasing costs may further enhance the feasibility and scalability of such systems in the future.
Hotels
• Various sources of excess heat: HVAC systems, kitchen appliances, laundry facilities, …
• Newly won electricity could then be used to power lighting, electronic devices, or other electrical equipment within the hotel, reducing overall energy costs and
environmental impact.
• Benefits:
Energy Efficiency: TEGs can capture waste heat that would otherwise be lost, improving the overall energy efficiency of the hotel’s operations.
Cost Savings: By generating electricity from waste heat, hotels can reduce their reliance on grid electricity, leading to potential cost savings over time.
Environmental Impact: Utilising TEGs helps to reduce the carbon footprint of hotels by decreasing the amount of energy required from fossil fuel-based
sources.
Marketing Advantage: Hotels that implement sustainable practices, such as energy upcycling with TEGs, can differentiate themselves in the market
and attract environmentally conscious guests.
Impact
• Conversion efficiencies of commercial TEGs can vary, but they typically range from 5% to 10% or higher under optimal conditions.
• Despite their relatively modest efficiency, TEGs offer advantages such as simplicity, reliability, and scalability, making them suitable for certain applications
where other power generation methods may not be practical.
• In the hotel industry, the efficiency of TEGs could be affected by factors such as the temperature of the waste heat sources, the availability of space for TEG
installations, and the specific energy needs of the hotel.
• Specific application like the hotel industry involves several variables, and providing a precise figure would require detailed analysis of factors such as the
temperature gradient, TEG module characteristics, and system design.
• For a hotel utilising waste heat from HVAC systems, kitchen appliances, and other sources, the temperature differentials might range from around 30°C to
150°C or more, depending on the specific sources and operating conditions.
Human demand
• R&D & Technical Team:
1 Mechanical Engineer
1 Thermoelectrical Engineer
• Management
1 CEO / COO
1 CFO / CIO
• Sales
2 Salespersons
• Installation
5 Installation workers
Further industries
• Automotive Industry: Automobiles produce significant waste heat from their engines and exhaust systems. TEGs could be integrated into vehicles to capture
this waste heat and convert it into electricity to power auxiliary systems, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.
• Manufacturing and Industrial Processes: Many manufacturing processes generate substantial amounts of waste heat. TEGs could be used to recover this
waste heat and convert it into electricity to power on-site equipment or supplement energy needs, improving overall efficiency and reducing energy costs.
• Power Plants: Traditional power plants, such as coal or gas-fired plants, release a large portion of the energy input as waste heat. TEGs could be employed to
capture this waste heat and convert it into additional electricity, effectively increasing the overall efficiency of the power plant.
• Data Centers: Data centers consume significant amounts of energy and generate substantial waste heat from their servers and cooling systems. TEGs could
be utilised to capture this waste heat and convert it into electricity, offsetting energy costs and improving the sustainability of data center operations.
• Marine Industry: Ships and marine vessels produce waste heat from their engines and exhaust systems. TEGs could be integrated into marine systems to
capture this waste heat and convert it into electricity, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
