District heating and industrial heat
Decarbonizing heat production with combined heat and power (CHP) and power to heat (P2H)Heat production accounts for half of the world’s final energy consumption and makes up 40% of global carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. It also stands as the primary cause of CO₂ emissions within the industrial sector.
What is heat decarbonization?
Heat decarbonization, also known as heat transition, is a process for reducing CO₂ emissions from heat production. As a first step, this can be achieved by making fuel usage more efficient. Later, this fossil fuel can be replaced with carbon-free fuel. Alternatively, heat production can also be electrified by using power from renewable energy. Existing heat networks can be transformed fast and at a large scale into cost-effective and flexible low-carbon energy systems.
What technologies can help to decarbonize heating?
There are several applications that can help you to decarbonize heat networks. At Siemens Energy, we provide tailor-made CHP and Power to Heat (P2H) solutions for residential, commercial, or industrial sectors.
CHP generates electricity and heat from a single fuel source. Traditional heating plants emit varying amounts of CO2 depending on the fuel used. Thus, even a simple fuel switch may reduce CO2 emissions by nearly 50%. Additionally, converting the plant into a GT-powered CHP or a Combined Cycle Power Plant with heat extraction can significantly improve its electrical efficiency. As a result, fuel efficiency can be as high as 90% while using as little fuel as possible.
Power-to-heat technologies
Power-to-heat (P2H) can be accomplished through heat pumps or electric boilers. Heat pumps utilize waste or environmental heat, raising its temperature with electricity. They produce the same heat using less electricity than electric boilers, leading to lower operational costs. Electric boilers require minimal capital investment and have quick installation. Induction-based technologies or innovative turboheaters are suitable for industrial processes requiring high temperatures.
Clean fuels, such as green hydrogen or biofuels, can drastically lower CO2 emissions and eliminate the need for fossil fuels in gas turbines. This is an effective way to future proof a combined cycle power plant and maximize its life cycle. Find out how much carbon footprint you can reduce by burning green hydrogen in your gas turbine. Calculate your carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction and cost-savings potential on carbon certificates.
Biomass and BECCS
Another decarbonization path is to transform fossil-fired heat generation by switching to sustainably produced biomass in Combined Heat and Power plants. When adding Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), biomass- or biofuel-based CHP plants can be further transformed into bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), thus allowing for negative emissions and energy production at the same time.
CHP, electric boilers, and heat pumps: heat temperature comparison
As most of the factors influencing the technology choice depend on the location of the heating network, there is no one-fits-all solution. However, a pre-selection of suitable technologies can be done, based on the temperature level that is required for the specific application. The matrix below shows the temperature level that can be achieved with different technologies.
Contact us today to find the best solution for decarbonizing your heat network!
Our heat decarbonization solutions provide several benefits
Affordability
Heat networks can play a major role in decarbonizing heat production at a reasonable cost. The technologies to decarbonize industrial heating and district heating already exist and are ready to be scaled.
Sustainability
By switching from coal- or oil-based steam plants to Gas Turbine powered CHP it is possible to rapidly reduce carbon emissions. Deep de-carbonization can be achieved by switching from natural gas to biofuels or hydrogen. Even negative CO2 emissions can be reached by combining Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) with biofuels (BECCS).
Due to their high Coefficient of Performance (COP), heat pumps provide low carbon heat. They are completely carbon neutral when powered entirely by renewable energy.
Flexibility
Heat can be stored significantly more cost effectively than electricity. The combination of P2H with CHP stabilizes the power market. Heat pumps are preferably operated at times of low power prices due to surplus renewable energy. When power prices are high CHP plants can profitably sell power and produce heat at the same time. At peak heat demand it is possible to operate the heat pump together with the CHP plant.
Contact us for more information about heating solutions
Siemens Energy Customer Support
+49 911 6505 6505
(Charges depending on provider)
+49 180 524 25 71
(Charges depending on provider; from the German fixed network € 0.14/min. and from the German mobile phone networks max. € 0.42/min.)
