To decarbonize industry, we must decarbonize heat

•Decarbonizing the industrial sector is a key part of economy-wide decarbonization•Decarbonizing process heat alone can mitigate about fifth global CO2 emissions•Cross-cutting R&D that decarbonize identified Industry often termed “hard to decarbonize” because vast, inhomogeneous array processes comprise sector. Nevertheless, decarbonization crucial addressing emissions. In 2010, full 13.1 gigatons (Gt) carbon dioxide (CO2) and 176 exajoules (EJ) primary energy demand were attributed globally. Developing new, decarbonized heating technologies represents single, broadly applicable pathway eliminating large portion sectoral emissions, approximately one-fifth overall. this perspective, we propose cross-cutting research effort in (1) zero-carbon heat, (2) electrification (3) fuels, (4) better management. If pursued, these distinct areas for will help drive technical advances further reduce such neither economic nor climate progress are sacrificed. But developing emissions—and We begin perspective with brief review cost heat. Then, highlight challenges needs technologies. Technologies four pathways discussed: sources, Finally, identify development adoption technologies, solution any which would constitute significant breakthrough on path decarbonization. Decarbonizing, or net elimination emissions from, widely acknowledged be challenging,1Davis S.J. Lewis N.S. Shaner M. Aggarwal S. Arent D. Azevedo I.L. Benson S.M. Bradley T. Brouwer J. Chiang Y.-M. et al.Net-zero systems.Science. 2018; 360: eaas9793Crossref PubMed Scopus (520) Google Scholar, 2Rissman Bataille C. Masanet E. Aden N. Morrow III, W.R. Zhou Elliott Dell R. Heeren Huckestein B. al.Technologies policies industry: assessment mitigation drivers through.Appl. Energy. 2020; 2070 (114848): 266Google 3Bataille Åhman Neuhoff K. Nilsson L.J. Fischedick Lechtenböhmer Solano-Rodriquez Denis-Ryan A. 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National Renewable Laboratory, 2015https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/64709.pdfCrossref Scholar:LCOH=AmortizedCapitalCostCapacityFactor+CostofEnergy×EnergyInHeatOut+OtherO&MHeatOut(Equation 1) where “amortized capital cost” normalized nameplate capacity generator. “capacity factor,” percentage uptime, accounts utilization incurred expenditures. “energy in” form combustible fuel, electricity, and/or waste “other O&M” captures all operation maintenance than input costs. “heat out” actual output generator, meets load facility. Like LCOE, limitations. example, intermittent resources without storage not equivalent an easily stored fuel. Distribution systems steam fluids add beyond what considered here. addition, co-generation combined power (CHP), uses fuel source generate electricity. Such methods do fit framework. calculation good underlying data. 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Values electrical resistive computed 95% electrical-to-thermal efficiency, combusted chemical-to-thermal efficiency. bound pump region efficiency.Table 1Distribution fraction USFacility annual average (MWth)Fraction (%)0 139.6%1 1026.5%10 10018.9%100 1,0002.1%Unreported13.0%Data Ruth.17McMillan Open table tab Data subject various sensitivities outside shown. addition increase jurisdictions exists, $/MWhth carbon-containing coal gas. scenario, raw material construction could increase, thereby increasing efficiency affects LCOH. Low-efficiency boilers heaters basis inverse proportion (see in/heat 1). financial hedges benchmarks. displays takeaways. First, compared familiar, residential retail prices, relatively cheap energy, particularly locales Second, renewable prices falling, most paid mean cases electrified (using, e.g., heating) still well times fossil-based generation. 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