The US Department of Energy has announced the launch of the Industrial Heat Shot, a new effort aimed at dramatically reducing the cost, energy use, and carbon emissions associated with the heat used to make everything from food to cement and steel. The latest DOE Energy Earthshots Initiative, the Industrial Heat Shot seeks to develop cost-competitive solutions for industrial heat with at least 85% lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.If this target is achieved, the American industrial sector will be on course to reduce its carbon equivalent emissions by 575 million metric tons by 2050, roughly equal to the annual emissions generated by all passenger cars currently on the road. The Industrial Heat Shot will help decarbonize the energy sector and help reach the Biden Administration’s goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. The Industrial Heat Shot has three key pathways to its targetElectrify heating operations: Electrify equipment, use clean electricity, and improve energy efficiency through technologies such as resistive heating, heat pumps, and microwave systemsIntegrate low-emissions heat sources: Transition to low-emission heat sources, such as geothermal energy, concentrated solar power, or nuclear energy, and increase thermal storageInnovate low or no-heat process technologies: Develop new chemistry and emerging biotechnology processes to reduce heat demand such as bio-based manufacturing, electrolysis, ultraviolet curing, and advanced separationsIn 2020, the industrial sector accounted for 33% of the nation’s primary energy use and 30% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. The industrial sector is uniquely difficult to decarbonize, due in part to the diversity of energy sources powering its vast array of industrial processes and operations. Much of that energy demand is used for a variety of thermal operations in manufacturing.
The US Department of Energy has announced the launch of the Industrial Heat Shot, a new effort aimed at dramatically reducing the cost, energy use, and carbon emissions associated with the heat used to make everything from food to cement and steel. The latest DOE Energy Earthshots Initiative, the Industrial Heat Shot seeks to develop cost-competitive solutions for industrial heat with at least 85% lower greenhouse gas emissions by 2035.If this target is achieved, the American industrial sector will be on course to reduce its carbon equivalent emissions by 575 million metric tons by 2050, roughly equal to the annual emissions generated by all passenger cars currently on the road. The Industrial Heat Shot will help decarbonize the energy sector and help reach the Biden Administration’s goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. The Industrial Heat Shot has three key pathways to its targetElectrify heating operations: Electrify equipment, use clean electricity, and improve energy efficiency through technologies such as resistive heating, heat pumps, and microwave systemsIntegrate low-emissions heat sources: Transition to low-emission heat sources, such as geothermal energy, concentrated solar power, or nuclear energy, and increase thermal storageInnovate low or no-heat process technologies: Develop new chemistry and emerging biotechnology processes to reduce heat demand such as bio-based manufacturing, electrolysis, ultraviolet curing, and advanced separationsIn 2020, the industrial sector accounted for 33% of the nation’s primary energy use and 30% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. The industrial sector is uniquely difficult to decarbonize, due in part to the diversity of energy sources powering its vast array of industrial processes and operations. Much of that energy demand is used for a variety of thermal operations in manufacturing.
