Renewable

industrial heat
navigator brief
→ Electrification solutions
 Preface
In today's rapidly evolving energy landscape,
Strategy
companies face increasing pressure to reduce carbon
→ Support broader business and sustainability goals by providing stable
emissions, not only to meet regulatory requirements
and competitively priced renewable heat. [refer to Business Summary, list
but also to stay competitive and align with growing of the key parameters]
stakeholder expectations. Across the globe, companies
have been successful in lowering their carbon footprint Risk
by procuring renewable electricity, and the renewable → Major challenges and benefits of the solution, illustrated through examples
Each brief is divided into four
electricity market is quickly maturing. However, and experiences from operational projects. [refer to Business Summary, key
sections:
heat used in industrial processes continues to be learnings from projects]
predominantly generated by burning fossil fuels and 1→ Business Summary giving a high-
Operations level strategic overview of the
transitioning to renewable heat marks the next major
factors that favor and limit each
frontier to further reduce industrial companies’ scope → Key solution capabilities and potential, including technical and other renewable heating solution, as well
1 and 2 emissions. Investment decisions for renewable requirements necessary for successful implementation. [refer to key as key takeaways from projects
process parameters, key location parameters] installed by peers.
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

heat* solutions have thus become a critical lever to

decarbonize industrial processes, reduce long-term
Finance 2→ Introduction, providing a brief
energy costs, and enhance operational resilience. overview of the renewable heating
→ Indicative cost details and commercial parameters to consider when solution.
assessing investment in the solution. [refer to key commercial parameters]
To support companies in assessing the suitability of
3→ A table with key parameters for
different renewable heat solutions for their operations, companies to consider when
WBCSD is publishing a series of navigator briefs assessing the suitability of each
Sustainability
centering on technologically mature solutions available renewable heat solution for their
→ How the solution lowers emissions, improves the company’s environmental operations.
on the market.** These briefs aim to provide companies
profile and furthers its sustainability goals. [refer to key location parameters,
with insights that allow them to make informed key commercial parameters, other parameters] 4→ A table with key learnings from
investment decisions, offering a clear understanding operational projects showcasing
of how renewable heat solutions can deliver both Benchmarking and procurement the barriers overcome and the
environmental benefits and returns on investment. success factors that led to the
→ Examples of how peers implement innovative solutions and form implementation of the selected
The briefs assess the impact of selected renewable partnerships to drive sustainability and boost confidence in investment projects.
heat solutions on key areas of a company's business, decisions. [refer to key learnings from projects]
including:
Environment, health and safety
→ Broad potential safety hazards to take appropriate safety measures
for each of the solutions. [refer to other parameters]
*‘Renewable heat’ refers to heat generated by low-carbon solutions
including direct electrification, solar thermal, geothermal and sustainable
bioenergy.
**This series of briefs covers technologies that are at Technology
Readiness Level 7 and above, i.e. the prototypes of solutions have been
demonstrated to work in operational environments. The other published
2 briefs are available on the WBCSD website.
 Table
of contents
Business Summary - 03. Key learnings from
Eletrifications solutions 04 implemented projects 11

01. Introduction 05 Annex 15

RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

02. Key parameters for assessing

suitability of electric boilers
and heat pumps 07
Key process parameters  07

Key location parameters 08

Key commercial parameters 09

Other parameters  10

Heat pump system at Tiense Suikerrafinaderij’s facility in Tienen, Belgium. (Source: Danish Technological Institute)

3
 Business Summary - Electrification solutions

ELECTRIC BOILERS
SUPPORTING FACTORS
Up to
→ Keeping conventional heat source
and utilizing electricity flexibly 500ºC
only when it is cheaper Process temperature
→ Availability of waste heat source
Up to
→ Combining heating and cooling to © Aneo2

99%
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

increase overall efficiency

LIMITATIONS
© Philip Morris International1 → Lower ratio between electricity HEAT → Additional costs
Efficiency

HEAT PUMPS
and gas price (i.e. spark gap)
→ Space to integrate the solution at PUMPS & for integration and
electrical equipment €60-240
/MWh Levelized Cost
ELECTRIC
Up to the industrial process level → Not enough
210ºC
of Heat
standardization
→ Need for precise temperature requiring individual
Process temperature

Up to
control and better heat quality
BOILERS engineering
→ Higher temperatures
worsen commercials

10x KEY
→ Availability of subsidies for innovative or
energy efficient projects → Sufficient electricity grid
Efficiency connection
COMMON → Aim to increase energy efficiency and reduce

€25-120 SUCCESS
reliance on fossil fuels
→ Successful cooperation among all external → Additional safety
/MWh Levelized Cost
of Heat
FACTORS and internal stakeholders to integrate the
solution
requirements for some
heat pumps
© Armstrong International3

1
Heat pump system at Philip Morris’ facility in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands. (Source: Philip Morris International)
2
Heat pump system at Pelagia’s facility in Måløy, Norway. (Source: Aneo)
3
Heat pump system at Evotec’s facility in Verona, Italy. (Source: Armstrong International)

4
01. Introduction
Electrification solutions encompass a wide range of Electrification solutions offer several advantages
technologies that supply heat using electricity instead over conventional fossil fuel systems and even other Did you know?
of burning fuel. They generate heat in industry through renewable heat options, such as solar thermal:
various principles, such as resistance heating (passing Some electrification technologies, such as
electric current through a conductor), induction heating → They have higher energy efficiency, especially in the
microwave, induction, or radio frequency
(using fluctuating magnetic fields), electric arc heating case of heat pumps, which can deliver up to 10 times
heating can deliver heat directly inside the
(creating high-temperature arcs), or heat pumps (heat more heat than the electricity they consume.
material being heated, unlike fossil fuel
transfer via compression cycles). Depending on the systems that rely on external burners. This
→ They can supply heat across a wide range of
technology employed, these solutions can cater to a direct heating enables faster, more uniform
temperatures, from low-grade heating to high-
wide range of applications, including those requiring warming of larger volumes (e.g. in mining)
temperature applications above 1,800°C, and can be
temperatures above 1,800°C. significantly improving energy efficiency
scaled from a few kilowatts to tens of megawatts.
and process control.
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Despite their potential, electrification remains

→ They can be aggregated to provide flexibility services
underutilized in industry. In 2022, only around 4% of
to the electricity grid, creating opportunities for
industrial heat globally was electrified. However, this
additional revenues from demand-side management.
share is projected to nearly triple to 11% by 2028,
according to the International Energy Agency.1 The long- → They are versatile and precise, offering improved
term potential is even greater as approximately 60% of control over temperature levels and heat quality,
industrial heat could be electrified using commercially improved worker safety, and often more efficient
available technologies today, with this figure expected to product processing.
rise to 90% by 2035 as emerging technologies mature.2
Importantly, all industrial heat demand below 500°C can → They have a limited land footprint compared to
already be met with mature electric solutions.3 solar thermal, making them suitable for retrofitting
into existing industrial sites.

→ They reduce onsite air pollution, eliminating

combustion-related emissions and supporting
cleaner, quieter industrial operations.

Heat pump system at FKA’s facility in Trondheim, Norway. (Source: Aneo)

5
01. Introduction
continued

Types of Electrification Solutions → Electric furnaces usually heat up air or materials

directly, making them more suitable for high-
This brief covers only electric boilers and heat pumps
as these can decarbonize a wide range of uses cases
Electrification solutions for industrial heat can be temperature applications. They include technologies across industries.* Electrification of furnaces often
roughly grouped into three main categories – electric such as resistive heating, plasma torches, shock-wave requires complete redesign of the production equipment
boilers, heat pumps, and electric furnaces. heating, or induction. such as the development of a completely novel steam
cracker or flat glass line, limiting their replicability across
→ Electric boilers use electricity to heat up water either sectors.
by flowing it through the water (electrode boiler) or
by heating up metal which then transfers the heat
to the water (resistance boiler). They are drop-in
replacements for fossil fuel boilers and are suitable for Figure 1: Simplified schema of a heat pump system
a wide range of industrial steam applications.
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

→ Heat pumps transfer heat from a lower-temperature

source (e.g. air, water, or waste heat) to a higher-
Heat source Heat pump Heat sink
temperature sink by circulating and compressing
a working fluid using electricity. They are highly
efficient because they move existing heat rather than 3 MWh of heat 4 MWh of hot water or steam (COP 4)
generating it.

This efficiency is measured by the Coefficient of

Performance (COP), which indicates how many units
Waste heat Industrial
of heat are delivered per unit of electricity consumed.
from cooling, 1 MWh of electricity process
In industrial applications, COPs typically range from
exhaust
2 to 5, meaning 1 unit of electricity can provide 2 to 5
gases, etc.
units of heat, and in certain applications can exceed
10. This category also includes Mechanical Vapor
Recompression (MVR) systems, which recover and
compress waste steam to a higher temperature and Electricity source
pressure, enabling its reuse in industrial processes.

*For more detail about the other technologies refer to the report by Fraunhofer ISI
6
02. Key parameters for assessing
suitability of electric boilers and heat pumps
Value
Key process
Context
parameters Electric boilers Heat pumps

Process Up to 500°C Up to 210°C ° Electric boilers can deliver temperatures above 500°C. However, the demand for high-pressure steam at such elevated
temperature* temperatures is extremely rare in industrial applications.**
° Most commercial heat pump systems supply heat at temperatures below 140°C due to greater technological maturity
and higher efficiency. Reaching temperatures around 200°C is typically feasible only with larger systems (in the multi-
MW range), due to technical limitations in making smaller high-temperature steam compressors.
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

° Heat pumps currently in research and development may achieve temperatures of up to 300°C.
.

Supported n/a Up to 130°C ° Only applicable to heat pumps, temperature lift refers to the difference between the heat source temperature (e.g.
temperature lift waste heat) and the heat sink temperature (i.e. the required process temperature).
° The higher the temperature lift, the lower the system efficiency (COP) and the higher the capital expenditure
(CapEx). For example, achieving very high lifts may require a multistage configuration, where multiple heat pumps are
connected in series.
° Typical industrial applications involve temperature lifts ranging from 50°C to 100°C.

Heat demand Flexible Preferably stable heat demand ° Electric boilers have low CapEx but lower efficiency. They are best suited for covering peak demand or supplementing
profile (baseload) matching the heat heat pumps when additional capacity is needed.
source profile ° Heat pumps require high CapEx but offer high efficiency. It is preferable to maximize their operating hours and
utilization to improve their commercial viability.
° Heat pumps can support batch production or support flexibility by reducing load, although both scenarios may
reduce overall efficiency.

Process integration 1:1 replacement of gas boiler At process level, preferably ° Heat pumps can, in theory, be used as a 1:1 replacement for existing fossil fuel boilers. However, their cost is highly
(integrated at utility level) after previous energy efficiency dependent on the required supply temperature and system size. As a result, it is almost always more effective to
optimization integrate heat pumps directly into the process to lower temperature demands and avoid oversizing.

Waste heat Hybridization of an existing ° Process waste heat is an ideal ° Retaining the existing fossil fuel infrastructure while installing an electric boiler can be a practical first step toward
fossil fuel boiler with electric heat source for industrial heat electrification, allowing companies to switch between systems based on current energy prices.
utilization and boiler pump
hybridization*** ° Heat pumps require a stable waste heat source. To ensure reliability, this source can be combined with thermal
° Solar thermal can be used to storage to deliver consistent heat when needed.
supply higher temperature ° Common industrial waste heat sources include exhaust gases, humid air from dryers, hot air from machine rooms,
heat to a heat pump and thus low-pressure steam, or condensate from cooling processes.
improve its efficiency
° The waste heat can originate from the same process it serves. For example, hot air from a dryer can be condensed
and used to supply a heat pump that, in turn, heats the dryer itself.

*Based on implemented commercial-scale projects.

**Therefore, the same cut-off point of commercially available temperature as in Fraunhofer ISI (2024) was chosen.
***Hybridization refers to the combination and integration of multiple heating technologies together.
7
02. Key parameters for assessing suitability of electric boilers and heat pumps: Key location parameters
continued

Value
Key location
Electric boilers Heat pumps Context
parameters

Required space 0.3-1 m2/MW 10-80 m2/MW ° The space requirements for heat pumps are highly variable. Some can be stacked around the process equipment or
may be stacked vertically to save space. On the other hand, some may require own building due to safety regulations.
° The space requirements also depend heavily on the temperature lift (same MW-size heat pump will be much bigger if
it needs to supply higher temperature lift), any additional integration equipment, and maximum temperature supply.

Capacity Up to 60 MW Up to 40 MW ° Both electric boilers and heat pumps are modular and can be installed in parallel to scale up capacity as needed.
° Heat pumps with a capacity below 2 MW are generally available as standard 'off-the-shelf' units from manufacturers.
Larger systems typically require custom design and engineering, which significantly increases costs.
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Distance from the Up to 1 km Up to 1 km ° Not a key parameter for electric boilers or heat pumps. Shorter distances help avoid heat losses in piping and lower
heat sink the energy consumption of pumps.

Local infrastructure Grid connection or an on-site Grid connection or an on-site ° For electric boilers, the required electrical connection capacity directly corresponds to the replaced fossil fuel
energy generation energy generation capacity.
° Heat pumps require significantly less electrical capacity, as their rated thermal output (in MW) must be divided by
their efficiency (COP) to determine the actual electrical demand.
° Electrification solutions typically face similar permitting hurdles as new gas boilers.

Heat pump system at Organon’s facility in Oss, The Netherlands. (Source: Trane Technologies)

8
02. Key parameters for assessing suitability of electric boilers and heat pumps: Key commercial parameters
continued

Value
Key commercial Context
parameters Electric boilers Heat pumps

Capital 150-400 €/kW 200-1500 €/kW ↑ The required temperature lift is the primary driver of capital costs, particularly when multiple heat pumps must be
expenditure4 staged to achieve higher temperatures.
↑ Integration costs can add 50–200% to the base cost of the heat pump system, especially when civil works or
additional expensive equipment, such as compressors or heat exchangers, are needed.
↑ Steam producing heat pumps are generally more expensive than those delivering hot water.
↑ Higher process temperature requirements in general contribute to increased capital costs.
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

↓ Using standardized, off-the-shelf heat pump systems can significantly reduce overall costs.
↓ Smaller-capacity heat pumps typically involve lower integration complexity and costs.
↓ Bulk procurement of integration equipment helps reduce equipment and installation expenses.
.

Operational cost 3-5% 1-6% ° Maintenance costs vary based on system complexity. Some systems require only periodic inspections and occasional
(excluding electricity) replacement of basic components, while others involve more intensive upkeep, such as frequent cleaning of heat
exchangers, which increases operational costs.
° In certain jurisdictions, regulations may require a full-time operator for heat pump systems, significantly raising overall
operating expenses.

Levelized Cost 60-240 €/MWh 25-120 €/MWh ° The levelized cost of heat delivered by electric boilers and heat pumps is primarily determined (up to 90%) by the
of Heat5 price of electricity. The technical appendix of Systemiq’s report on electrothermal energy storage provides generic
LCOH calculations for several European and US markets.
° The base LCOH for heat pumps (excluding price of electricity) is around 10-30 €/MWh.

Carbon savings ° Carbon savings from electrification depend on the carbon intensity of electricity used. In extreme cases, such
when replacing as regions still heavily reliant on coal, like parts of India, electrification can paradoxically result in higher overall
emissions. The benefits can be therefore maximized through combination with power purchase agreements or on-site
renewable power generation.
a) natural gas ° Around 200 kg CO2-eq per MWh
° Another consideration is the global warming potential (GWP) of the working fluid used in a heat pump. In the event
boilers of leakage, some working fluids can contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, modern heat
° Around 400 kg CO2-eq per MWh pumps use only low-GWP working fluids, such as ammonia or hydrocarbons, to minimize climate impact.
b) coal-fired boilers

9
02. Key parameters for assessing suitability of electric boilers and heat pumps: Other parameters
continued

Value
Other
parameters Electric boilers Heat pumps Context

Efficiency 99% 250-450% (COP 2.5-4.5) ° The efficiency of a heat pump is determined by the temperature lift required. As the temperature lift increases,
efficiency decreases.
At 20°C lift n/a 600-900% (COP 6-9) ° Efficiency determines the economic viability of a heat pump system. To be cost-competitive, the COP must exceed
the "spark gap" (the ratio of electricity prices to fossil fuel prices) so that operational costs are lower than those of a
At 50°C lift n/a 350-450% (COP 3.5-4.5) fossil-based alternative.
° In most cases, a COP below 2.5 makes it difficult to achieve economic feasibility, except in regions with exceptionally
At 100°C lift n/a 200-300% (COP 2-3) low electricity prices, such as northern Norway.
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Safety Similar as for a gas boiler with Working fluid may be ° Natural working fluids (hydrocarbons, ammonia) currently used in most industrial heat pumps may require extra
less air pollutants flammable (hydrocarbons) or safety precautions due to their flammability and/or toxicity. However, these substances are commonly handled in
toxic (ammonia) industrial environments.
° Synthetic working fluids can be safer but face regulatory scrutiny.

° The lifetime of a heat pump often correlates with its capacity. Larger, custom-built systems typically offer longer
Lifetime ~20 years ~ 30 years
operational lifespans.
° As high-temperature heat pumps are still relatively new to the market, performance guarantees currently range
between 40,000 and 80,000 operating hours.

Heat pump system at Evotec’s facility in Verona, Italy. (Source: Armstrong International)

10
03. Key learnings from
implemented projects*

Pelagia – Aneo Bunge

FOOD & BEVERAGE FOOD & BEVERAGE
Måløy, Wormerveer,
Norway The Netherlands

Tiense Suikerrafinaderij – Pelagia - Enerin

GEA Refrigeration – Danish FOOD & BEVERAGE
Technological Institute Måløy,
FOOD & BEVERAGE Norway

Tienen,
Belgium
GE Healthcare -
Enerin
Philip Morris Investments – CHEMICALS
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

JOA Air Solutions Lindesnes,

TOBACCO Norway
Bergen Op Zoom,
The Netherlands

FKA - Aneo
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Trondheim,
Norway

Gulpener Brewery –
Danfoss - Servex
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Gulpen,
The Netherlands

Organon – Trane
Technologies
PHARMACEUTICAL
Oss,
The Netherlands

Evotec – Armstrong
International -
Combitherm
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH
Verona,
Italy

11
*The map shows only locations of projects featured in this brief.
03. Key learnings from implemented projects
continued

Project details Decisive parameters Barriers faced Success factors Ease of process
integration

Pelagia – Aneo → Availability of two waste heat → Complexity of integrating waste heat → Rising energy costs and need to → Needed to retrofit existing process
streams (35-70°C water and 85°C streams to get stable temperature reduce reliance on steam generated layout and infrastructure which
FOOD & BEVERAGE water from drying process) to allow and flow by fossil fuels required engineering coordination
the heat pump system to produce
Måløy, Norway → Initial uncertainty about the quality → Strong environmental (4,000 tons → The heat pump system is multistage
steam (130-140°C)
and consistency of waste heat CO2/year reduction) and economic with ammonia heat pump
4.5 MWth → Limited grid capacity could not performance aligned with Pelagia’s (producing steam) and a steam
→ Technical complexity in matching
support an electric boiler sustainability goals compressor (increasing steam
steam output with process needs due
→ High efficiency with COP 3.5 rising to varying production requirements → Large capacity shows replicability of temperature)
up to 7 when recovering excess heat the system across other sites → The system required customized
with higher quality integration, but it did not cause
→ Availability of grants from ENOVA
supporting the project. major process disruption
.

Tiense → Required process temperature → The used working fluid (pentane) → Commitment of all partners to the → The new building housing the heat
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Suikerrafinaderij – (138°C, 3.5 bar(a) steam) and waste is flammable which required project and close collaboration pump required longer sections of
heat temperature (76°C, 0.55 bar(a) constructing a separate building → External expert support regarding piping and electrical wiring.
GEA Refrigeration – steam) are suitable for a high and using specialized equipment to the mitigation of risks associated → Existing boiler was retained to help
Danish Technological temperature heat pump.
4 MWth Institute
minimize risks with using flammable working fluid with startup of the heat pump and
→ High efficiency compared to other → Stainless steel heat exchangers to support operation.
→ Co-funded by Horizon Europe under
FOOD & BEVERAGE technologies required more space than expected the Spirit-Heat project → The heat pump needed some
→ The heat pump complied with food design corrections during the
Tienen, Belgium safety standards integration due to its novel design.

Philip Morris → Environmental impact (2,000 tons → The room needed work done to → Good collaboration with different → Minimizing downtime was crucial
Investments – CO2/year reduction) and efficiency ensure safety compliance for the stakeholders (internal and external) with factory shutdowns used to
gains ammonia heat pump. such as engineering consultants, avoid major disruptions.
JOA Air Solutions
→ The financial viability of the heat → Coordination between multiple contractors, and internal project → Technicians were trained by the
3.2 MWth TOBACCO pump based on the installation costs, suppliers proved challenging, teams. This was essential for supplier to operate the system.
operational costs, savings, and especially in terms of timelines, overcoming challenges and ensuring
Bergen Op Zoom, → Automation and control systems
project payback equipment lead times, and the project’s success.
The Netherlands helped in seamlessly integrating
availability for on-site activities. the heat pumps with the existing
process.
.

FKA - Aneo → Excess waste heat available (30-40°C → Integration with existing process → Rising energy costs and need to → Required process adaptation for
water from air cooler) to allow the as the waste heat source must be reduce reliance on steam generated heat recovery and integration
FOOD & BEVERAGE heat pump system to produce steam stable and sufficient by fossil fuels → The seamless connection of the
(130-140°C)
Trondheim, Norway → Matching heat pump supply with → High energy savings (67% savings) heat pump and factory controls
→ Lower investment compared to an production schedule (continuous and strong environmental required design coordination
1.5 MWth electric boiler as the heat pump production) and the redundancy performance (1,500 tons CO2/year between FKA and Aneo
system did not require a grid requirements reduction)
connection upgrade → The heat pump system is multistage
→ Availability of grants from ENOVA with ammonia heat pump
→ High efficiency and waste heat supporting the project (producing steam) and a steam
utilization compressor (increasing steam
temperature)
12
03. Key learnings from implemented projects
continued

Project details Decisive parameters Barriers faced Decisive success factors Ease of process
integration

Gulpener Brewery – → The brewery requires both heating → High CapEx which needed → Bold long-term vision from the → Integration at the process
Danfoss - Servex and cooling making it ideal for heat governmental support Gulpener management to achieve level required evaluation of the
pumps. → Electricity price and the gas-to- carbon neutrality by 2030 temperature required at each step.
FOOD & BEVERAGE → The heat pump system is highly electricity price ratio determine the → The holistic approach combining → Careful assessment was needed to
efficient as it reuses the waste heat long-term commercial viability heating and cooling to improve efficiently integrate the heat pump
Gulpen,
1.5 MWth The Netherlands
from refrigeration in the brewing
→ Lack of awareness about the efficiency and sustainability system into the existing production
process. site.
maturity of heat pumps and → Subsidy on CapEx from the Dutch
→ Technical maturity of heat pumps their capability to reach high government → The construction and installation
making it possible to reach temperatures of the heat pump was relatively
temperature of 130°C without straightforward.
negative impact on product

Organon – Trane → Recovering and repurposing heat → Changing the behaviors and → Organon was able to rent the system → The installed water-to-water heat
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Technologies from compressed air plant with heat perception of employees regarding from Trane to test the technology pump units are compact and were
pumps achieved attractive return on the new integrated systems and demonstrate savings prior to able to fit into the basement of the
PHARMACEUTICAL investment approach and the new ways of investing CapEx existing production building.
→ No impact on the product quality working → Direct involvement of the Organon
1.5 MWth Oss,
thanks to temperature precision and → Demonstrating the long-term return production and quality teams in the
The Netherlands
high uptime on investment of the solution specification of the system
→ Technical maturity of the heat pumps → Town halls with employees to
discuss the planned decarbonization
changes and why they matter

Evotec – Armstrong → Availability of waste heat from → Timing constraints to access → Turnkey project delivery, including → Easier integration as the existing
International - cooling towers which was the national incentive scheme thermal energy assessment, water piping, used by combined
synchronized with the heat demand (energy efficiency certificates) by Armstrong which managed heat and power installation, was
Combitherm allowing for optimal operation of the which required effective project stakeholders and bore project- adapted for the heat pump system
heat pump management related risks
PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH → The heat pump, including additional
748 kWth → Ability to reuse part of the existing → Relatively high electricity-to-gas → Scope 1 emissions reduced by 55% recirculation pumps, was installed
Verona, Italy cold and hot water distribution price spread required very efficient (1,600 tons CO2/year) within the existing steam boiler
network system design to optimize COP and house
→ The used synthetic working fluid has
→ Avoided the need to generate thus decrease payback time low safety risk and impact on CapEx
steam for process application using
temperatures below 100°C → Subsidy through energy efficiency
certificates

Bunge → Required process temperature (85°C) → The technology risk had to be → Commitment of the project team to → The heat pump was installed on the
is well suited for a heat pump assessed and managed as heat finding both technical and financial factory floor in a closed container.
500 kWth FOOD & BEVERAGE
→ Ability to integrate process cooling pumps are a novel solution for Bunge. feasibility → Retained back up both for heating
Wormerveer, and to utilize waste heat from it → Synthetic working fluid with low and for cooling.
The Netherlands global warming potential

13
03. Key learnings from implemented projects
continued

Project details Decisive parameters Barriers faced Decisive success factors Ease of process
integration

Pelagia - Enerin → Availability of waste heat streams → Limited space to install the heat → Long-term partnership with Pelagia → Process integration was planned
(15-90°C) which make it possible pump including previous feasibility studies early in the project timeline based
FOOD & BEVERAGE to deliver steam at 5 barg steam → Integration with the current control and pre-projects on extensive collected data on
pressure, handling fluctuating energy streams at the factory.
Måløy, Norway system → A planned expansion adding 1.2 MW
pressures between 2 to 8 barg (130-
180°C), with a COP of 2.1 and above beyond the first installed heat pump → No extra safety measures
at typical conditions → Availability of grants from ENOVA necessary as the working fluid
400 kWth supporting the project (helium) is non-toxic and has zero
→ The heat pump is based on the global warming potential.
Stirling cycle making it suitable for → Demonstrated ability to follow both
variable heating and cooling demand varying source temperature and
→ Simple integration requiring limited varying steam pressure demands
changes to the current equipment
which reduced technical risk and
costs
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

GE Healthcare - → The required process temperature → Low price of energy for the current → Constant heating and cooling → The integration was not difficult
Enerin of approximately 140°C used for fossil fuel heat generation demand allows for a high uptime as the heat pump could handle
distillation as well as recovery and → Requirement for a high return on the (99.8%) and improves energy unexpected fluctuating conditions
CHEMICALS reuse of solvents is ideal for the efficiency in the steam network.
investment, which was solved by
400 kWth Lindesnes, Norway
steam producing heat pump
using heat as a service → Commitment by GE Healthcare to
→ The heat pump is capable of handling emissions neutrality from gas by
varying pressure demand (1.8-2.5 2030
bar(a), 130-140°C) in response to the
supply from other boilers → Availability of grants from ENOVA
supporting the project

HoegTemp heat pump system at Pelagia’s facility in Måløy, Norway. (Source: Enerin)

14
 Annex: Links to external case studies
Project name Location Link to case study

List of demonstration projects with details by IEA Technology Collaboration

Worldwide → https://heatpumpingtechnologies.org/annex58/task1/
Programme on Heat Pumping Technologies

→ https://www.ehpa.org/news-and-resources/publications/large-scale-
Large scale heat pumps in Europe report by European Heat Pump Association Europe heat-pumps-in-europe/

Electric boilers at Diageo distillery USA → https://www.renewablethermal.org/case-study-diageo-distillery/

→ https://www.renewablethermal.org/piller-chivas-case-study/
→ https://www.chivasbrothers.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MVR-
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Open-Source_Case-Study_July-2023.pdf
MVR Heat Pumps & Thermal Efficiency at Chivas Brothers Distillery United Kingdom
→ https://www.piller.de/fileadmin/media/pdf-files/product-sheets/
PILLER_Case_Study_Chivas_Brothers.pdf

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 Glossary
CAPEX
Capital expenditure

COP
Coefficient of performance

GWP
Global warming potential

LCOH
Levelized cost of heat

MVR
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Mechanical vapor recompression

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 Endnotes
1. International Energy Agency (2024). Renewables 4. Values based on ‘SYSTEMIQ (2024). Catalysing
2023. Retrieved from https://iea.blob.core. the Global Opportunity for Electrothermal Energy
windows.net/assets/96d66a8b-d502-476b-ba94- Storage. Retrieved from: https://www.systemiq.
54ffda84cf72/Renewables_2023.pdf. earth/electrothermal-energy-storage/’ and
corroborated by contributing experts.
2. Fraunhofer ISI (2024). Direct electrification
of industrial process heat. An assessment of 5. Values based on ‘SYSTEMIQ (2024). Catalysing
technologies, potentials and future prospects for the the Global Opportunity for Electrothermal Energy
EU. Study on behalf of Agora Industry. Retrieved from: Storage. Retrieved from https://www.systemiq.
https://doi.org/10.24406/publica-3407 earth/electrothermal-energy-storage/’ and
corroborated by contributing experts.
3. McKinsey & Company (2024). Net-zero electrical
heat: A turning point in feasibility. Retrieved
from: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF ELECTRIFICATION SOLUTIONS

sustainability/our-insights/net-zero-electrical-heat-
a-turning-point-in-feasibility#/

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 Acknowledgements

Disclaimer About WBCSD

This navigator brief is the result of collaborative effort The World Business Council for Sustainable Development
between WBCSD, representatives from WBCSD’s Decarbonizing (WBCSD) is a global community of over 240 of the world’s leading
Heat workstream, and external subject matter experts. A businesses driving systems transformation for a better world in
range of stakeholders reviewed the drafts, ensuring that the which 9+ billion people can live well, within planetary boundaries,
publication broadly represents the majority perspective. by mid-century. Together, we transform the systems we work in
WBCSD incorporated input and feedback from stakeholders in a to limit the impact of the climate crisis, restore nature and tackle
balanced way. However, this does not mean that every member inequality. We accelerate value chain transformation across key
company or stakeholder agrees with every word or endorses sectors and reshape the financial system to reward sustainable
the report. This publication has been prepared for general leadership and action through a lower cost of capital. Through
informational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon the exchange of best practices, improving performance,
as accounting, tax, legal or other professional advice. accessing education, forming partnerships and shaping the
policy agenda, we drive progress in businesses and sharpen the
accountability of their performance.
Acknowledgements
RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF
SOLAR THERMAL SOLUTIONS

Follow us on LinkedIn and X.

We especially thank Arcadis for their contributions to the outline
of the parameters and the Renewable Thermal Collaborative www.wbcsd.org
and their member companies for their invaluable insights
about electrification solutions. Additionally, we would like to Copyright © WBCSD, June 2025
acknowledge that the navigator brief benefited from expert
contributions from Acceleware, Aditya Birla Group, Aneo,
Armstrong International, Bunge, Danfoss, Danish Technological
Institute, Enerin, Engie, ERM, Fraunhofer Institute for Systems
and Innovation Research ISI, GEA, Geelen Counterflow, Naked
Energy, Philip Morris International, Piller, Skyven Technologies, The
German Aerospace Center (DLR), TNO, Trane Technologies, and
Turboden.

Lead Authors:
Daniel Galis, Senior Associate, WBCSD

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RENEWABLE INDUSTRIAL HEAT NAVIGATOR BRIEF
SOLAR THERMAL SOLUTIONS

Geneva | Amsterdam | Chicago | London | New York City | Singapore | Wuhan City

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