Review of Industrial Heating and Potential Low-carbon Fuels in the Context of Nepal.

Abstract

Process heating is an important step in manufacturing industries such as metal, cement, brick, food, etc., and accounts for a large share of the total energy consumption of those industries. In Nepal, process heating alone accounts for around 64% of the process energy of the manufacturing sector. Around 64% of Nepalese industries’ energy demand for process heating is supplied by high-carbon emitting fossil fuels such as coal, diesel, etc. The industrial sector is responsible for significant global greenhouse gas emissions. Nepalese manufacturing Industries emit around 0.002248 GT of CO2 annually. The movement toward carbon neutrality has prompted many countries around the world to look for clean and sustainable fuel to meet their decarbonization goal. This study overviews Nepalese industries’ different industrial heating processes in terms of energy consumption, emissions, energy efficiency measures and interventions, and renewable options from a literature review and using data from secondary sources. Based on the data collected and the literature review of the industries, the potential low-carbon fuels which can be compatible with heating applications in Nepalese industries are reviewed. This paper concludes with recommendations for the future decarbonization of process heating in Nepalese industries.