Study / Integration potential of solar heat in industrial processes

This study dedicated to the potential integration of solar heat energy in industrial processes aims to provide a first level of information on the technical and economic feasibility of these solutions.

At the global level, heat consumption for industry represents nearly 24% of final energy consumption, all uses combined, and all energy carriers combined. This corresponds to nearly 24,000 TWh. By distinguishing the temperature levels, it is possible to consider solar heat technologies that could provide part of the supply for this energy consumption.

The study is composed of 4 parts: 

• The first part is dedicated to a state-of-the-art of solar heat technologies (collectors, storage, and operating principle) that can be used to supply heat for industrial processes. Thermal storage technologies, which are rarely dissociable from solar collectors, are also discussed.
• The second part deals with the methodology required to integrate solar heat.
• The third part is dedicated to the economic aspects.
• The fourth part presents four detailed projects sheets allow to discover solar heat installations integrated to industrial processes. They illustrate the diversity of solutions that can be implemented to meet different objectives.

In summary, this study found:

• The need to conduct detailed energy analyses to promote the integration of solar heat energy and to use the most appropriate technology,
• The diversity of solutions address a large part of the industry's low and medium temperature heating needs, depending on their level of maturity,
• The competitiveness of the cost of solar heat compared to conventional solutions and especially their insensitivity to changes in the energy market, given their very limited operating costs,
• An environmental impact 10 to 20 times lower than natural gas. 

Executive summary