The opportunities of industrial heat electrification

The Italian manufacturing industry is responsible for 85.4 MtCO2eq, accounting for about 22 percent of national greenhouse gas emissions. Of these, 63% come from the direct combustion of fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, used for thermal power generation. This dependence can be significantly reduced through direct electrification of process heat. Reducing the demand for natural gas would not only lower emissions, but also contribute to the national strategy to strengthen national energy security.

In particular, the potential for electrification appears immediately exploitable for industries that use process heat at low to medium temperatures (below 150°C). For these industries, complete electrification, taking advantage of existing technologies, would be theoretically feasible. This opportunity would not only provide companies with a sustainable and safe technology option, but also contribute to the development of the domestic production chain.

The ECCO think tank delved into the feasibility of heat electrification through a bottom-up approach, analyzing possible economic, infrastructure and policy bottlenecks, as well as opportunities and benefits. Based on sectoral technical insights, the discussion will address opportunities for the domestic manufacturing sector, both on the side of energy consumers and enabling technology providers, reconciling sustainability goals, with security of supply and business competitiveness.