Abstract
Electrification of industrial processes is one of the frequently discussed options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy-intensive industries. This paper presents a bottom-up framework to assess process electrification options for energy-intensive industrial process plants in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. The framework is based upon pinch analysis methods, and accounts for site-specific conditions, including the effects on heat recovery potential and overall mass and energy balances. Furthermore, interactions between the process site and the background energy system are considered and scenarios are introduced in order to assess the impact of electrification options under different future energy market conditions. The framework is illustrated by a case study for an existing chemical plant for which there is a broad variety of electrification options that affect the process in different ways. The option of replacing the natural gas based syngas production unit with electrified syngas and electrified steam production is analysed in detail. The results indicate natural gas savings of 173 MW whereas the electricity demand increases up to 267 MW, leading to a strong increase in energy costs but also avoided greenhouse gas emissions of 333 kt/a. For the two energy market scenarios for 2030 and 2040, the energy costs increase by 59M€/a and 50M€/a. The framework can be used to compare electrification with other process greenhouse gas emission reduction measures and to support policy and industrial decision making.
Highlights
In 2014, the industrial sector accounted for 36% (154 EJ) of global final energy use and 24% (8.3 GtCO2) of direct fossil CO2 emissions
From a company’s perspective, process electrification can be a measure to comply with emission limits and to reduce the costs associated with emitting greenhouse gases
The ENPAC tool (Axelsson and Harvey, 2010) was used to generate consistent scenarios for energy prices and marginal greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of energy for large-volume industrial customers based on forecasted prices for fossil fuels on the commodity market and costs associated with emitting greenhouse gases
Summary
In 2014, the industrial sector accounted for 36% (154 EJ) of global final energy use and 24% (8.3 GtCO2) of direct fossil CO2 emissions. Electricity can be used to replace fossil fuels for direct process energy demand as well as to produce fuels and raw materials This fuel switch in conjunction with the anticipated increasing amount of electricity from renewable sources can potentially lead to a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at the plant and at Bottom–Up Assessment Framework for Process Electrification the national and global energy systems level. This is even more the case for electrification options with a low TRL which can only be considered for implementation in the medium- or longterm This leads to a need for consistent future energy market scenarios in which the values of the aforementioned parameters are internally consistent. The ENPAC tool (Axelsson and Harvey, 2010) was used to generate consistent scenarios for energy prices and marginal greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of energy for large-volume industrial customers based on forecasted prices for fossil fuels on the commodity market and costs associated with emitting greenhouse gases
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