The regeneration in regenerative thermal oxidizers helps boost energy efficiency due to the recycling of thermal energy that would otherwise be wasted in the effluent airstream. Whereas thermal oxidizer rely on fuel to supply energy, regenerative systems have ceramic media that absorb the energy from the high-temperature and treated airstream and transfer the heat to the incoming dirty airstream, thus preheating it.

Since the airstream is already at a higher temperature, less fuel is required to raise its temperature to the required range of 1,400°F-1,800°F. In addition, the system operates on a cycle whereby the direction of the airflow shifts between the chambers for the continuous recovery and reuse of thermal energy. In turn, such an arrangement makes it possible to get a thermal efficiency of more than 90 percent.

The stability of temperature in the system also means fewer energy changes despite varying temperatures. For processes with enough concentrations of VOCs, there can be a possibility that no extra fuel is used, as it is almost self-sustained.

The above features make regenerative thermal oxidizers quite energy-efficient systems for emission abatement.