The potential for electrifying industrial utility systems in existing chemical plants

The electrification of utility systems in energy-intensive plants is a promising measure for decarbonising the chemical industry in the short term. However, with the increasing deployment of renewable energy sources, the variability of electricity prices will become a challenge for plants with continuous and constant energy demand. It is thus uncertain whether electrification can become financially viable. This work models the electrification of utility systems in combination with storage technologies for five chemical plants with existing fossil fuel-based utility generation and uses historical data as energy price scenarios. The results show that partial electrification is cost-effective when using electricity is cheaper than natural gas for more than 600 h. Regarding the portfolio of technologies, electric boilers are installed first, followed by thermal energy storage and batteries. Hydrogen is not cost-effective in any of the scenarios explored. This is independent of the type of plant, the available grid connection capacity, and the minimal load of existing fossil fuel-based utility generation. This work thus highlights the potential for electrifying industrial utility systems and the role that electric boilers and energy storage units can play in electrification. • Electrifying utilities is a cost-effective CO 2 emission reduction strategy. • Electric boilers with thermal energy storage appear to be the preferred solution. • Hydrogen as an energy carrier is not selected in any of the scenarios modelled.