Partners, sectors & events
Decarbonated gases and process electrification: what are the key lessons?
06
May
Published on : 06/05/2022
As part of its mission to support innovation and energy efficiencý for industry, the ALLICE Alliance wished to inform its members on the potential for electrification of industrial thermal processes on a national scale and on the potential for integration of decarbonated gases. These two studies have been conducted with the special support of ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition), allowing them to be exceptionally the subject of two public summaries accessible to all. Find the summaries of the two studies as well as the invitations for the two webinars of restitution.
" As the French electricity mix is among the most carbon-free in Europe, the electrification of thermal processes appears to be a major lever for decarbonization for industrial players.
As the French electricity mix is among the most decarbonized in Europe, the electrification of thermal processes appears to be a major lever for decarbonization for industrial players, particularly for low-temperature thermal uses or for certain specific processes for which highly efficient technologies exist. Of the 258 TWh of consumption linked to thermal processes, 240 TWh are currently not electrified, whereas 29% could be electrified by 2035.
Electrification allows to reduce French industrial direct CO2 emissions by 2035 (median scenario) up to 21% in the maximum estimated potential (case with 29% electrification above).
Nevertheless, electrification is an essential but not sufficient solution to achieve the decarbonization objectives. Other solutions are therefore necessary to consider, and the integration of decarbonized gases appears to be a strategic and complementary solution for these processes.
"The theoretical maximum potential for electrification is 29% by 2035 [...] Other decarbonation solutions must therefore be considered, and the integration of decarbonated gases appears to be a strategic and complementary alternative when electrification is not relevant.
In this context, a strong increase in the consumption of decarbonated gases in industry is expected, particularly for certain very high temperature processes, especially in the clay and steel sectors. Feedback on the integration of decarbonated gases in industrial processes is already available. In the future, the place of each of these gases and their level of penetration will depend on the evolution of the production sectors, the level of support for these sectors, and the technological choices made for each of the other French energy uses. For example, boilers will be able to accept raw gases such as biogas or syngas more easily. On the contrary, the use of decarbonated gases in furnaces is more complex, but the interest for a use in cooking is stronger.
In this context, a strong increase in the consumption of decarbonated gases in industry is expected, particularly for certain very high temperature processes, especially in the clay and steel sectors. Feedback on the integration of decarbonated gases in industrial processes is already available. In the future, the place of each of these gases and their level of penetration will depend on the evolution of the production sectors, the level of support for these sectors, and the technological choices made for each of the other French energy uses. For example, boilers will be able to accept raw gases such as biogas or syngas more easily. On the contrary, the use of decarbonated gases in furnaces is more complex, but the interest for a use in cooking is stronger.
The transition towards a near zero-carbon industry requires first of all efforts in energy efficiency and operational optimisation - recovery of waste heat in particular - completed by changes in fuel and associated thermal processes, and by the development of CO2 capture technologies. ALLICE publishes every year 5 or 6 studies and 2 or 3 state of the art on these issues. If you wish to have access to the detailed results of all our work, do not hesitate to contact us to join us.
As part of its mission to support innovation and energy efficiencý for industry, the ALLICE Alliance wished to inform its members on the potential for electrification of industrial thermal processes on a national scale and on the potential for integration of decarbonated gases.
These two studies were conducted thanks to special support from ADEME (the French Agency for Ecological Transition), allowing them, exceptionally, to be the subject of two public syntheses accessible to all.
In order to promote this work, two public webinars are organized on June 14 (Potential for electrification of industrial thermal processes on a national scale - registration) and June 21 (Decarbonized Gas Integration Potential - registration) from 12pm to 2pm.
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Contact : Marie-Pierre LABAU - mplabau@ctcpa.org
