Electrification of industrial boilers in the USA: potentials, challenges, and policy implications

Zuberi, M. Jibran S.; Hasanbeigi, Ali; Morrow, William

doi:10.1007/s12053-022-10079-0

Electrification of industrial boilers in the USA: potentials, challenges, and policy implications

Journal Article · Wed Dec 14 23:00:00 EST 2022 · Energy Efficiency

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-022-10079-0· OSTI ID:1987506

^[1]; Hasanbeigi, Ali ^[2]; Morrow, William ^[1]

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Global Efficiency Intelligence (GEI), Tampa Bay, FL (United States)

Decarbonization of the industrial heat demand through electrification could contribute significantly to climate change mitigation efforts. In the US industry, thermal processes accounted for 75% of the total final energy demand in 2018, of which 17% is consumed by conventional industrial boilers (excluding cogeneration) for steam generation. Electric boilers have a small share in the US industrial steam generation due to several techno-economic reasons. Here, this study employs a bottom-up approach to investigate the sector-level and state-level techno-enviro-economic potentials of deploying electric boilers in the US industry in different timeframes. The results show that the technical potential energy and CO₂ savings by electrifying industrial boilers are 595 PJ and 200 MtCO₂ per year in 2050, respectively; however, these incur additional costs in each sector. Although there may be individual cost-effective opportunities for electrifying boilers in specific industrial sites, the overall costs are high in all industrial sectors and states due to the large disparity between electricity and combustion fuel prices. To overcome the highlighted techno-economic barriers, a comprehensive action plan for different stakeholders is also formulated. This study provides novel insights that should inform policymakers’ and executives’ decisions about the electrification of the current and future US industrial boiler systems.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Office (AMMTO)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1987506

Journal Information:: Energy Efficiency, Journal Name: Energy Efficiency Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 15; ISSN 1570-646X

Publisher:: SpringerCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CO2 emissions
USA
electrification
industry
specific costs
steam boiler

Electrification of industrial boilers in the USA: potentials, challenges, and policy implications

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References (14)

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