By the Numbers: Process Heat without Carbon

A September 2021 report by Bloomberg New Energy Finance, “Hot Spots for Renewable Heat,” looked at the prospects for decarbonizing processes that need heat of less than 400 °C (750 °F) across the so-called G-20 group of large economies, which account for some 80 percent of the demand for low- and medium-temperature industrial processes. The top markets for alternatives to fossil fuels—China, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and the United Kingdom—all featured relatively low power prices, favorable regulatory environments, and a robust ecosystem for renewable heat solutions.

The report also examined the pros and cons of four renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. Switching from carbon fuels to these renewable sources to provide industrial heat won’t be easy, but the report contends that the payback would ultimately be worth it.