Transforming the Process Industries through Electrification: Challenges and Opportunities

Michael Baldea, Elizabeth E. Endler, Elaine Hale, Christos T. Maravelias, Massimiliano Barolo, Iiro Harjunkoski, Mehmet Mercangoz, Sirish L. Shah, Masoud Soroush, Brent R. Young, Qi Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

For the more than 70 years, the process industries have provided essential fuels and materials for global growth. Increased manufacturing production comes with substantial environmental impact. Reducing environmental impact through process electrification, carbon capture, and other emerging technologies would require large changes throughout the process industries. We review opportunities and challenges related to electrification, focusing on technical, operational, and economic considerations. We conclude that electrification could completely eliminate scope 1 CO2emissions, increase product quality, and reduce the equipment size and cost. On the other hand, it calls for a significant expansion of power generation capacity, as well as new paradigms for process design and operations.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)16466-16478
Number of pages13
JournalIndustrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Volume64
Issue number34
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 27 2025

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

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