The international energy sector is being shaken by a rapid structural transformation. Industrial operators need to reduce the risks of geopolitically uncertain fuels, and, at the same time, achieve increasingly stringent climate and emissions targets.
Industry requires a lot of energy. Usually, energy is used for process heating and is needed continuously, so the flexibility of energy infrastructure and reliability of delivery are critical to economic competitiveness. Increasing the diversity of energy production supports both these factors.
The technological development of burners and heat pump solutions designed for industrial scale delivers a concrete path towards adopting new energy sources.
Multi fuel capability strengthens delivery reliability in industry
Burners are a key part of industrial process systems all the way from blast furnaces to drying plants and industrial ovens. The ability to offer alternative and multi fuel systems has become a strategic competitive factor. Flexibility has become particularly critical in energy-intensive industries, such as in the chemical and the steel industry.
There is a strong demand for bio fuels in global markets – and for good reason; they support regional energy self-sufficiency and reduce the users’ carbon footprint. However, the fuel’s availability and calorific value may vary, especially if the plant’s own side streams are used. Operational reliability can be improved with a multi fuel system, such as a burner that fires bio gas under normal conditions and LPG at particularly high load points.
In industry, uninterrupted production is crucial in any case. In natural gas plants, light fuel oil and LPG serve as important backup fuels, especially in crisis situations where fuel availability is limited or prices rise rapidly.
Multi fuel burners allow you to seamlessly switch between fuels. This improves delivery reliability, decreases the risk caused by fluctuations in fuel price, and enables a gradual transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
Industrial heat pumps: electrifying process heating
For years, heat pumps have been able to produce water above 100 degrees Celsius. In the future, heat pumps can also produce steam, which opens up even wider possibilities for electrifying process heating.
By using heat pumps, process heating and cooling can be combined into a seamless system where the heat pump removes heat from one part of the process and supplies it to another.
Heat pumps utilize low-temperature energy from the environment or process waste heat, resulting in a high coefficient of performance that enables significant energy savings. The production of electricity is increasingly shifting towards wind, solar, and nuclear power around the globe. To account for this, industrial heat pumps are becoming a crucial part of the electrification strategy within industry.
Industrial operators can utilize process heat recovery, waste heat from cooling systems, and other heat flows from industrial premises and sites. Overall energy efficiency improves and energy costs decrease, not to mention the overall reduction in emissions.
International industry benefits from diversifying its energy sources
Dependence on overly concentrated energy infrastructure exposes companies to price spikes and supply chain disruptions. Multi-fuel burners and heat pump solutions create a resilient, distributed energy infrastructure, especially when used together.
The EU, the United States, and Asia are setting increasingly stringent emission reduction targets. The electrification of industry and the use of bio fuels are key paths to net zero.
Companies that invest in modernizing their energy systems enjoy lower operating costs, better energy efficiency, and a smaller carbon footprint, which is a key competitive advantage in international production chains.
The global focus on emission reductions is steering industry towards a more diverse, resilient and overall sustainable energy portfolio.
Multi-fuel burners and industrial heat pump solutions are concrete ways to ensure continuity in production and promote energy efficiency. Together, they provide a solid technological foundation for the industry’s energy transition on the way towards a low-carbon and secure energy production.