Electrification of High Temperature Heat

Approximately half of industrial heat demand is for thermal processes that operate at temperatures above 400°C. These processes typically occur in hard-to-abate sectors such as iron and steel, basic chemicals, cement and lime, nonferrous metals, and glass production, all of which rely on fossil fuel combustion to supply most of their thermal energy needs. Implementing direct electrification at scale has generally been perceived as too expensive, too disruptive to existing infrastructure, and too technically challenging. Approaches to decarbonizing high temperature heat have therefore often focused on combustion-based pathways such as carbon capture, hydrogen, or biomass.

However, a growing body of evidence suggests that electrification of high temperature processes will be a key driver of industrial decarbonization. Electrification is already the default option for certain high temperature processes such as secondary steelmaking in electric arc furnaces. Electrified heating technologies are also commonly used at smaller scales for manufacturing specialty materials that require a high level of temperature control. Beyond existing applications, pilot and demonstration projects in cement, chemicals, and other sectors have shown that technically, electrification could satisfy a much greater share of industrial heat demand than it does today.

Advantages of direct electrification include improvements to process efficiency, significant reductions in energy-related emissions when using low carbon electricity sources, and lower maintenance costs. This Guidehouse Insights report provides market forecasts for electric heating capacity additions and equipment revenue for high temperature industrial processes from 2024 through 2033. Forecasts are segmented by global region, sector, and technology development stage.