Energy Efficiency as a Foundational Technology Pillar for Industrial Decarbonization

Abstract

The U.S. government aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to reduce the severe impacts of climate change. The U.S. industrial sector will become a focal point for decarbonization since it accounts for 33% of the nation’s primary energy use and 30% of its energy-related CO2 emissions. Industrial emissions are also expected to increase by 15% through 2050, making the industrial sector a logical target for decarbonization efforts. Energy efficiency technology pathways provide low-cost, foundational routes to decarbonization that can be implemented immediately. Energy efficiency technology pathways, such as strategic energy management, system efficiency, smart manufacturing, material efficiency, and combined heat and power, are well established and would immediately reduce energy use and emissions. However, their role in the aggressive net-zero decarbonization pathway for the industrial sector is still unclear. This study aims to address energy efficiency pathways for decarbonization, and reviews studies related to these technologies for industrial decarbonization through 2050. This study identifies different strategies for the industrial sector in general and that are specific to six energy-intensive industries: iron and steel; chemical; food and beverage; petroleum refining; pulp and paper; and cement. Finally, a path toward the successful implementation of energy efficiency technologies is outlined.

Parametric Energy Efficiency Impact Analysis for Industrial Process Heating Furnaces Using the Manufacturing Energy Assessment Software for Utility Reduction

“…Junger et al [19] analyzed the maintenance plans for North America and Europe's typical basic oxygen furnaces (BOF) and the calculations showed that switching from the BOF everlasting lining to a lining with a lifetime of 5000-7000 heat cycles is feasible and allows steel operators to save money. Industrial furnace emissions are a growing concern as can be seen by the increased number of laws being enforced to reduce these emissions' detrimental environmental effects and industrial emissions are expected to rise by 15% before 2050 [20]. An experimental investigation was carried out by Szego et al [21] to look at the scaling of nitrogen oxide (NO x ) emissions from a parallel jet burner system in a moderate or extreme low-oxygen dilution (MILD) combustion furnace, and they found that NO x emissions were decreased by up to 48% and 10% when fuel was diluted by up to 76% by mass with CO 2 and N 2 , respectively, with a maximum temperature reduction of only 56 • C.…”

Analisis Dampak Penggunaan Energi Terbarukan, Efisiensi Energi, dan Teknologi Hijau pada Pengurangan Emisi Karbon di Industri Manufaktur Kota Tangerang

“…Integrasi sumber energi terbarukan di sektor manufaktur telah terbukti memiliki korelasi positif dengan pengurangan emisi karbon (Chandra Voumik, Ridwan, Hasanur Rahman, & Raihan, 2023). Berbagai penelitian telah menunjukkan potensi tenaga surya, angin, dan tenaga air untuk menggantikan atau melengkapi sistem energi berbasis bahan bakar fosil tradisional, menyoroti peran transformatif yang dapat dimainkan oleh sumber energi bersih dalam membentuk lintasan keberlanjutan industri manufaktur (Sundaramoorthy et al, 2023), (Attfield, Bell, & Grobler, 2023).…”

Impact of thermodynamics and kinetics on the carbon capture performance of the amine-based CO2 capture system

“…Efforts are increasing worldwide to significantly decrease GHG emissions as of 2050 in compliance with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which requires transformational measures (Sundaramoorthy et al 2023 ; UNFCCC 2023 ). Specifically, regarding global warming, the importance of substantial GHG emission mitigation for decades to come has been highlighted, namely, to reach or approach near-zero levels by the close of the century, ensuring a temperature increase less than 2 °C relative to pre-industrial levels, particularly in an effort to constrain it to 1.5 °C by 2050 (Bompard et al 2018 ; Hou et al 2023 ; IPCC 2023 ; Rockström et al 2017 ; Steffen et al 2015 ; Succar et al 2023 ).…”

“…From 2017, the global mean temperature rise amounted to almost 1 °C and is estimated to reach the 1.5-°C indication as of 2040 in the case of these trends. A temperature limit of 2 °C implies attaining the zero emissions target in the latter half of this decade; however, when restricting the temperature to 1.5 °C, GHG emissions need to converge a nearly zero level as of 2050 (Rissman et al 2020 ; Sundaramoorthy et al 2023 ).…”