DOE launches Industrial Heat Shot development effort to cut industrial emissions 85 percent

Through the Industrial Heat Shot, a new program launched this week, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will push the development of industrial heating solutions that could lower greenhouse gas emissions by at least 85 percent by 2035.

It’s the sixth Energy Earthshots initiative – a series of federal innovation drives meant to help solve the climate crisis and advance net-zero carbon goals by 2050 through clean energy solutions and other breakthroughs. The 85 percent reduction goal set by Industrial Heat Shot was based on the DOE consensus that it would put the American industrial sector on track to reduce carbon emissions by 575 million metric tons by 2050 and help decarbonize the energy sector at large.

In 2020, the industrial sector accounted for 33 percent of the nation’s primary energy use and 30 percent of its energy-related CO2 emissions.

“Today, heavy industries that produce products such as cement and steel account for 30 percent of carbon polluting emissions,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said. “For the sake of our health and the health of the planet, we must slash carbon pollution from the industrial sector. The launch of DOE’s Industrial Heat Shot is an ambitious effort to leverage innovation and U.S. scientific leadership to cut emissions from this sector by 85 percent—providing cleaner air for Americans, fighting the climate crisis, and pushing forth clean energy breakthroughs.”

The difficulty with decarbonizing the energy sector stems from the sheer scope of energy sources powering its processes, fueling a heavy energy demand used for a variety of thermal manufacturing operations, and more. Treating meals, separating chemicals, melting plastics – industrial heat alone makes up approximately 9 percent of the entire U.S. emissions footprint, according to the DOE.

Accordingly, Industrial Heat Shot will emphasize three areas of interest:

1. Electrification of heating operations
2. Transitioning to low-emissions heat sources
3. Developing new chemistry and biotechnology processes for low or no-heat process technologies

Solicitations for public feedback on the initiative should follow in the months ahead.