Solar energy for industrial processes
Solar energy for industrial processes
Or how to reduce CO2 emissions in industry
The decarbonization of industrial heat is an important challenge on the path toward reducing emissions in industry. 32% of global energy consumption is used in industry, and 74% of this energy consumption is used for heat production, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Two-thirds of this heat is used to supply processes at temperatures above 150°C, such as distillation, dyeing, bleaching, or material transformation processes. The Orennia chart above shows a more detailed breakdown of consumption across different sectors, together with their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Concentrated solar power (CSP) is perfectly positioned to supply heat up to 500°C. This makes CSP for industrial heat particularly relevant for industries that account for up to 15% of global CO2 emissions, such as:
- Plastics and chemicals
- Paper
- Food processing
- Textiles
In Spain, clean technologies for industrial processes play an important role in these sectors through electricity consumption and the use of biomass to supply heat. However, fossil fuels (mostly natural gas, together with small amounts of coal and petroleum products) provided between 40% and 76% of energy in 2021, according to the IEA chart below. This opens the door to a strong expansion of solar energy in industry and the use of CSP in factories in the coming years.
At FersiSolar S.L., our advanced technology can supply heat up to 500°C, contributing significantly to CSP for industrial decarbonization. The use of storage systems will be essential for solar energy to exceed 50% of the annual heat supply. In this area, we have storage technologies using water tanks, molten salts, or thermal oils, as well as concrete heat storage systems.
CSP brings many benefits to industry. It would not only reduce CO2 emissions but also increase energy savings in industry through greater energy efficiency in these industrial processes. A sustainable and reliable supply of locally produced heat would reduce dependence on natural gas imports from abroad and exposure to price shocks. The latter is especially important for industrial profitability, something we were reminded of again in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the crisis it triggered.
By integrating CSP, concentrated solar energy for industrial processes can contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future for industrial processes. Let us know your heat requirements; we have a solution.
