Opportunities to significantly expand & scale electrification of industrial processes

Panel: 4. Technology, products and systems

Authors:
Edward Rightor, ACEEE, USA
William Morrow, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA
Joe Cresko, Department of Energy, USA
Neal Elliott, ACEEE, USA

Abstract

Several transformative pathways have been proposed for industrial decarbonization including beneficial electrification. The prospects for accelerated electrification vary by industry, but there are several large, cross-cutting opportunities (e.g. motor drives; industrial heat-pumps; convective process heating & drying) and more process specific opportunities (e.g. surface treatments; materials preparation; resistive/inductive/dielectric thermal operations). Multiple hurdles have impeded broad adoption of these electrified industrial operations, such as low stock turnover, energy cost gaps, process integration, risk aversion, and unique/proprietary process designs. However, electrotechnologies have established footholds in multiple niches and provide advantages over incumbent (non-electrified) processes. These successful cases represent islands of opportunity, from which an extended opportunity space may be assessed. By highlighting co-benefits, pursuing unique advantages, enhancing growth within industrial clusters, integrating energy efficiency, and thoroughly capturing the complete value of the technology, electrotechnologies can be expanded from these niche opportunities to benefit a broader range of manufacturers.

Across all opportunities, a durable, supportive, and agile policy environment that addresses issues across RD&D, scale-up, process integration, and infrastructure is needed to accelerate electrification and the targeted GHG emissions reductions, and realize extended systems benefits.

This talk will describe opportunities and challenges for significantly increased industrial electrification, routes to address hurdles, pathways to accelerate growth niche applications, and policy approaches to enable more rapid adoption of current, emerging, and future electrotechnologies.

This presentation was unfortunately not recorded due to technical problems. Watch session discussion.