Potential of Solar Process Heat in Industry

According to a study [3] around 30% of the total industrial heat demand is required at temperatures below 100 °C and 55% of the total industrial heat demand is required at temperatures below 400 °C. The main part of the heat demand below 100 °C could theoretically be met with solar thermal systems using current technologies, if suitable integration of the solar thermal system can be identified. With technological development, more and more medium-temperature applications up to 400 °C will also become market feasible. 

In several specific industry sectors, such as food, wine and beverages, transport equipment, machinery, textiles, pulp and paper, the share of heat demand at low and medium temperatures (below 250 °C) is around 60% (POSHIP, 2001). Tapping into this potential would provide a significant solar contribution to industrial energy requirements. 

Solar heat has the technical potential to make a major contribution to the share of renewables in district heating and industrial low-temperature process heat. According to the Technology Roadmap of the International Energy Agency (lEA) envisions a contribution of solar heat in industrial applications of 7.2 EJ per year in 2050, corresponding to an installed capacity of over 3200 GWth [4]. 

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