Renewable energy and green power have received increased public attention in recent years, owing to their potential to contribute to greenhouse gas emission reductions. Although there has been significant interest in the potential for green power to contribute to heating and cooling in domestic space heating applications, there has been much less interest in their usage in industrial applications. This article will look at the impact green power has on the industrial sector.
Energy Demand in the Industrial Sector
In 2009, the global industry sector accounted for over one-third of worldwide energy use, with total final energy demand reaching 128 exajoules (EJ). Exajoule is energy measurement, and one exajoule is equal to ten quintillion joules of energy. Now let’s take a look at the consumption of the industrial sector in exajoules. The process heat was generated using a total of 78 EJ of fuel. Blast furnaces and coke ovens consumed another 9 EJ for iron and steel manufacturing. The amount of petrochemical feedstock used to make chemicals and polymers is around 16 EJ. The remaining energy usage in the industry is electricity demand (24 EJ) for electrolysis, motor drives, cooling, and refrigeration.
In industrial applications, green power can be used extensively. Green power solutions utilised in the industrial sector are Biomass energy, solar thermal systems for process heat, and heat pumps for process heat. The following are three green powers that are used in the industrial sector.
Biomass Energy in the Industrial Sector
Biomass is a renewable organic fuel derived from plants and animals. This green power can be used to generate heat or transformed into electricity. Biomass is the most frequently used renewable energy source in the industry sector.
This green power is used in the industrial sector for various applications, including space heating, hot water heating, and electricity generation. In Brazil, biomass accounts for 34% and 40% of the total energy consumption of the cement-iron and steel industries, respectively. Because such a high level of biomass contribution can be maintained in Brazil’s two most energy-intensive sectors, a similar level of participation should be technically achievable elsewhere. The factors restricting the expansion of biomass use in these two industries are non-technical. Resource availability and competition from other energy sources are possible factors.
Water desalination, oil recovery, food processing, chemical synthesis, and mineral processing are just a few of the industrial applications for solar energy. The regional breakdown shows that most regions can use solar thermal systems to process heat production in large amounts. The overall consumption of the selected sectors, their demand for low-temperature process heat, and, most crucially, the amount of solar energy available all influence the regional potential for this green power.
Heat Pumps for Process Heat
A heat pump is a machine that uses energy extracted from the air to heat or cool a space without the use of fuel. This technique is known as Space conditioning. Heat pumps are a cost-effective way to provide heat while increasing overall efficiency and potentially converting to carbon-neutral power. A heat pump has a remarkable efficiency rate because it only consumes electricity for power rather than heat creation. In certain places, heat pumps are already a viable alternative to fossil fuels for low-temperature process heat.
Join Hands with a Sustainable Service Provider
Every industry is now moving towards a greener future with a low carbon footprint. The potential of green power in this sector has seen an increase over the years, and it is only going to grow. This is probably the best time for individuals to shift their energy from conventional energy to renewable and green energy sources. A collaboration with a sustainable business provider is feasible for you as well
