Low-Temp Heat Pumps for industrial

Industrial heat pumps targeting low-temperature (<200 °C) heat are a high-impact, scalable, and efficient decarbonization lever. They deliver 3–5x the heat per kWh, eliminate on-site combustion, and reduce industrial emissions by up to 16% by 2050 in the U.S. Their potential depends on rollout at scale, system integration, and supportive policy frameworks.

Decarbonizing low-heat processes is not enough to achieve deep industrial decarbonization, but it's the low-hanging fruit that can deliver near-term, high-impact gains. They free up renewable electricity and hydrogen for harder, high-temp applications.

Industrial Impact

• Drying processes alone account for 10–25% of all industrial energy use, even though they're often low-temp <200 °C.
• Electrify common low-temp heat applications: space heating, wash water, pasteurization, drying—roughly half of industrial process heat is below 200°C.
• Enable decarbonization by replacing natural gas and fuel oil, reducing Scope 1 emissions in food, beverage, pulp & paper, and chemical sectors.

Emissions Impact

• COP 3–5 translates to 50–80% energy savings compared to fossil-fired heating and significant CO2 reductions, especially when powered by green electricity.
• Modeling for the U.S. suggests shifting to industrial heat pumps could slash industrial emissions by 5% by 2030 and 16% by 2050.

Supply Chain & Deployment Challenges

• High Capital Cost: Heat pumps cost more upfront, but fuel volatility and long-term savings close the gap.
• System Integration: Successful deployments leverage waste-heat sources, thermal storage (e.g., water tanks), and integrated cooling—requiring collaboration among OEMs, EPC firms, and plant operators.
• Refrigerant & Component Design: Large compressors, heat exchangers, sustainable refrigerants (e.g., CO2, hydrocarbons), and advanced controls are needed.