Energy Use, Storage and Emission Analysis for Industrial Decarbonization

Dear Colleagues,

It is widely recognized that emerging technologies are needed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to moderate the significant impact of climate change. The industrial sector all over the world is a substantial energy end-use sector and emitter of GHGs. However, it attracts less attention in decarbonization and emission control than conventional fossil fuel power generation. Based on the study of EIA, the worldwide industrial sector energy consumed 54% of total delivered energy in 2016, more than any other end-use sector. The total energy consumption of the industrial sector is also projected to increase by 1.2%/year from 2012 to 2040. Fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas and other carbon liquid fuels, provide a large proportion of this energy, as well as massive GHG emissions. With the common goal worldwide to achieve a de-carbonized society, it is critical to find low-cost solutions which can be implemented at large-scale in the industrial sector. Renewable energy utilization and integration in energy systems of the industrial sector is also an important aspect to investigate for decarbonization. For instance, industrial process heat could be provided by solar thermal, geothermal or biomass resources to substitute conventional fossil fuel energy sources to eliminate GHG emissions. However, more research is needed regarding feasibility, reliability and cost.

This Special Issue focuses on recent research and development related to advanced technologies in the industrial sector to use, save and store energy to improve system efficiency and reduce GHG emissions in near-term emission control and long-term industrial decarbonization. Research and technological development related to all types of energy systems applied to the industrial sector from the perspectives of fundamental science, promising materials, as well as component- and system-level design are all welcomed. The specific areas of interest for this Special Issue include but are not limited to the following:

• Advanced emission control technology;
• Advanced component and energy system design;
• Analysis comparing promising decarbonization technologies in the industrial sector;
• System-level modeling;
• Renewable energy applications in the industrial sector;
• Energy storage systems in the industrial sector;
• Low- or zero-carbon fuels;
• Life-cycle analysis and technical and economic analysis on the above technologies.

We look forward to receiving contributions from the energy research community to address the ongoing climate change issue for a de-carbonized future.

Dr. Xingchao Wang
Dr. Fan Zhang
Guest Editors

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• industrial decarbonization
• industrial emission control
• low- and zero-carbon fuel
• renewable energy integration
• system modeling and analysis
• energy storage