Techno-economic analysis on wind thermal energy converters and renewable heating technologies for process heat in Germany

Abstract

Process heat accounts for one-sixth of the EU28s final energy consumption. Currently, industrial processes mostly rely on conventional heating systems such as combustion boilers. With the urge to mitigate climate change, German regulators introduced a carbon pricing mechanism, which gradually increases prices for fossil fuels in all sectors. This thesis investigates alternative heating technologies for low- and mediumtemperature process heat; potentially substituting combustion boilers and reducing the industrial carbon footprint. The chosen methodology was the techno-economic analysis. First, the technologies were identified and described, second, their levelized cost of heat was calculated; third, the Analytic Hierarchy Process was applied to determine the best technologies under given criteria. The levelized cost of heat calculation proves that renewable heating technologies such as solar thermal systems, wind thermal energy converters, and electric heating systems can perform similar or better than fuel-based heating systems. Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process, it was concluded that combustion boilers are the most favorable heating technology closely followed by electric heating systems. However, depending on the use case and available renewable energy sources, renewable electricity or a hybrid system consisting of solar thermal and wind thermal converters are alternatives for conventional heating systems.