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In 2021, ALLICE carried out an initial technical study on very high-temperature heat pumps (VHT heat pumps) for industry. This study provides an overview of the current state of the art in existing solutions and analyses in detail three heat pump technologies considered particularly relevant to the industrial sector. To build on this analysis, ALLICE launched three new studies in 2024 aimed at identifying the barriers and drivers to the deployment of these technologies.

This study corresponds to Part 1: “Market study on mature heat pump solutions in industry”.

This is followed by Part 2, which covers the state of the art in high-temperature heat pumps, and then by Part 3, which focuses on the integration of heat pump technology in industry.Despite their benefits in terms of energy efficiency and decarbonisation, heat pumps are struggling to be deployed on a large scale in industry. This first section of the study aims to analyse the conditions necessary for their adoption. This involves, in particular, understanding the current market, identifying relevant target sectors that could use this technology as a decarbonisation solution, and identifying the drivers and business models likely to stimulate the deployment of heat pumps in industry.

Globally, in 2022, hydrogen consumption stood at around 94 million tonnes, and its production remains predominantly carbon-intensive, with 81 per cent derived from natural gas or coal.

Whilst a sharp increase in hydrogen consumption, particularly for energy purposes, is forecast (this energy carrier is identified in the France 2030 plan as one of the drivers for decarbonising industry), the question arises as to the availability of greener and more sustainable production methods. Indeed, the rise in demand is expected to open up new opportunities for use and decarbonisation in the energy, transport and residential sectors.

At a time when various projects using hydrogen to decarbonise a range of applications are emerging, many uncertainties remain. Indeed, the production of ‘green’ hydrogen remains limited by the capacity to develop additional renewable energy sources, and the integration of carbon-based hydrogen is not a viable solution for decarbonising industrial processes. Furthermore, the costs of developing hydrogen remain uncertain, depending on the as yet unclear development of renewable energy sources dedicated to its production, as well as on electrolysers and how they operate, which is holding back stakeholders from making projections and investing in this sector.

The objectives of the study are as follows:

Based on a meta-analysis of published studies, the ALLICE study assesses the challenges relating to the availability of hydrogen for industrial uses in France, considering the following questions:

• How should hydrogen uses be prioritised to optimise decarbonisation, and what role would industrial applications play in this? For which uses should hydrogen be favoured over other alternatives?

• What challenges does the development of dedicated hydrogen infrastructure pose, given the uncertainty surrounding the evolution of its uses?

• What future synergies with other countries could be envisaged? What infrastructure would then be required? Among the conclusions of this study:

The growing demand for biomass to decarbonise the economy raises questions about its availability and competition for its use by 2050.

Globally, a sharp increase in the consumption of biomass for energy purposes is expected (the International Energy Agency, for example, forecasts a 48 per cent rise between 2020 and 2050 in its Net Zero scenario).

This increase will be driven mainly by the need for carbon-free electricity and heat generation, and by demand from the industrial sector. In France, although electricity is already largely carbon-free, an increase in consumption is also expected for the production of heat through combustion and biogas.

Nevertheless, bio-resources require much more land than other decarbonisation options, and their limited availability raises a number of key questions:

Based on a meta-analysis of available public studies, the ALLICE study assesses the challenges associated with the future mobilisation of France’s biomass resources to meet industry demand for bioenergy:

Most scenarios highlight a shortfall in biomass to meet bioenergy demand by 2030 and 2050. However, due to significant differences between the scenarios in terms of assumptions – and therefore in projections of availability and demand – the results obtained do not allow for a definitive conclusion regarding the shortfall in biomass. Regular updates to this work will enable the analysis to be refined.

The growing demand for biomass to decarbonise the economy raises questions about its availability and competition for its use by 2050.

Globally, a sharp increase in the consumption of biomass for energy purposes is expected (the International Energy Agency, for example, forecasts a 48 per cent rise between 2020 and 2050 in its Net Zero scenario).

This increase will be driven mainly by the need for carbon-free electricity and heat generation, and by demand from the industrial sector. In France, although electricity is already largely carbon-free, an increase in consumption is also expected for the production of heat through combustion and biogas.

Nevertheless, bio-resources require much more land than other decarbonisation options, and their limited availability raises a number of key questions:

Based on a meta-analysis of available public studies, the ALLICE study assesses the challenges associated with the future mobilisation of France’s biomass resources to meet industry demand for bioenergy:

Most scenarios highlight a shortfall in biomass to meet bioenergy demand by 2030 and 2050. However, due to significant differences between the scenarios in terms of assumptions – and therefore in projections of availability and demand – the results obtained do not allow for a definitive conclusion regarding the shortfall in biomass. Regular updates to this work will enable the analysis to be refined.

This study identifies and analyses the aid and support schemes aimed at decarbonising industry in a selection of seven European countries, a crucial issue for the development of this type of high-impact project.

The research aims to answer two key questions:

Seven countries were selected for this study: Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland and the United Kingdom. This selection is based on an in-depth analysis of key criteria, such as national political stability, energy costs, the scale of their industrial activity, and the market potential for decarbonisation solutions.

The scope of the search for devices was limited to two main categories:

Only national schemes have been mapped.

In total, 86 schemes covering different types of funding and decarbonisation levers were identified.

This work revealed a degree of harmonisation in the eligibility criteria for these schemes, particularly in the case of programmes involving calls for proposals.

The study concludes by assessing the suitability of some of these schemes for five profiles of industrial stakeholders representative of ALLICE’s members. It identifies the main challenges specific to each profile and highlights the most appropriate schemes in relation to their characteristics and objectives.

In 2021, ALLICE carried out an initial technical study on heat storage in industry, presenting a review of the state of the art in existing solutions as well as several case studies assessing the technical feasibility of implementing these solutions. There is thus a marked interest amongst most players in the thermal storage sector in solid thermocline technologies. This interest has helped to accelerate the maturation of this technology, which is now commercially available with a TRL of 8. Detailed fact sheets for each technology are included in the study report.

Today, although heat storage projects offer advantages in terms of energy efficiency, their roll-out appears to be facing difficulties. This raises questions about the target market for these solutions and the business models that could accelerate their adoption. Indeed, the thermal storage capacity deployed in industry remains limited.

The aim of this study is therefore to analyse the conditions necessary for the roll-out of thermal energy storage in industry. These include:

The study focused on industrial applications involving heat storage combined with high-temperature utilisation (above 150°C). The analysis of a combined system with a power-to-heat solution was also considered.

This study explores eco-design in industrial processes, highlighting the various approaches and levels of application involved in this approach. Its main objective is to provide a detailed overview of the current state of the art in methods available for mitigating the impact of industrial sites and their manufacturing processes.

Carried out by the Eco-design Unit, this study draws on industry expertise, discussions with manufacturers committed to environmental practices, and a review of scientific articles

Eco-design is an approach that aims to reduce the environmental impacts of a system (product, service or organisation) throughout its life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials right through to the end of its life.

Whilst eco-design has historically been associated with a product-centred approach (“product approach”), it can also be applied to a company as a whole, taking into account all its products, services and processes. This is known as the organisation-wide approach, which considers environmental impacts in a holistic manner. This approach can be implemented through the establishment of an Environmental Management System (EMS).

The choice of the most appropriate approach must be based on an assessment phase to identify the environmental issues specifically linked to the site’s industrial activities. Once this assessment phase has been completed, and in order to facilitate the consideration of environmental issues, companies can then opt for one of the two approaches.

Against a backdrop of efforts to reduce energy consumption and the carbon footprint, systems analysis – and in particular the Pinch method – is emerging as an effective solution for optimising energy use in industrial processes.

This methodology aims to determine the minimum amount of energy required and to optimise heat exchanger networks, whilst minimising operational and capital costs.

The Pinch method is characterised by its strategic approach, which helps to improve energy efficiency, contribute to decarbonisation and manage resources sustainably.

The main objectives include minimising energy consumption, maximising recoverable energy and reducing operating costs.

It comprises five stages, the first three of which are set out in detail in the report:

The recommendations set out in this study are intended to guide stakeholders towards optimal implementation, thereby promoting significant progress in energy management, the decarbonisation of processes and industrial sustainability.

Fouling of heat exchangers is a major obstacle for manufacturers, who are reluctant to invest in energy efficiency projects that incorporate waste heat recovery. This report provides an overview of the state of the art in solutions available to combat fouling of heat exchangers and improve the performance of heat recovery systems.

The report outlines the various types of fouling (particulate, corrosion-related, biological and chemical) and the technical and economic impacts of this phenomenon. It also sets out various solutions to mitigate these drawbacks. The choice of heat exchanger constitutes the first part of the solution, provided it is correctly sized. The second part of the solution requires the use of technologies that complement the heat exchanger. 

The methodology for identifying existing solutions is based on the relevant literature, supplemented by interviews with providers of innovative technological solutions in the sector.

The rational use of energy, a key concern in the context of the energy transition and the fight against climate change, has also become a major geopolitical issue in recent years.

Among the solutions for reducing energy consumption, the recovery of waste heat from industrial processes (which would otherwise be lost) is a key factor. To maximise this recovery, multi-energy-vector utilisation via cogeneration and trigeneration (the simultaneous production of electricity, heat, cooling or mechanical energy) may be of particular interest.

The aim of this ALLICE study is to explore opportunities for improving the performance of waste heat recovery systems, with a focus on technologies (ORC, thermal compression cooling and heating), and to investigate the associated financing solutions.