Decarbonization of thermal processes in hard-to-abate industries

Hard-to-abate industries, including steel, non-ferrous metals, cement, chemicals, glass, and ceramics, account for a significant share of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions. The thermal processes involved require high-temperature heat, often generated through the combustion of fossil fuels. Decarbonizing these thermal processes is therefore essential to achieving climate neutrality and meeting international climate targets. However, the transition is challenging due to the high energy intensity, process-specific requirements, and limited availability of mature low-carbon alternatives. Emerging solutions such as direct electrification, renewable and low-carbon fuels or hybrid solutions offer promising pathways to reduce emissions. Accelerating the deployment of these technologies is critical for enhancing industrial competitiveness while supporting a sustainable and resilient energy transition. Addressing these challenges requires not only technology development but also systems-level analysis, encompassing techno-economic assessment, lifecycle evaluation, and process integration, to identify viable, scalable decarbonization pathways across diverse industrial contexts.Goal: This research topic aims to bring together cutting-edge research addressing the decarbonization of thermal processes in hard-to-abate industries, including metals, cement, chemicals, glass, ceramics, and related sectors. We invite contributions that advance the deployment of low-carbon technologies for industrial high-temperature heat generation. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, process electrification, use of renewable and low-carbon fuels, alternative low-emission heating processes, etc., all of them seeking to identify viable pathways for reducing industrial greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. The collected works will contribute to accelerating the transition toward climate-neutral industrial thermal systems by enabling the large-scale adoption of innovative low-carbon technologies and strategies for sustainable industries with high-temperature demands.Scope and information for Authors: This research topic welcomes original research articles and reviews addressing innovative improvements to existing systems or proposing alternative technologies that reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in thermal processes from hard-to-abate industries. Particular interest is given to research on sustainable heat generation pathways, including electrification, renewable energy integration, renewable synthetic fuels, bioenergy, and other low-carbon solutions. Submitted manuscripts should provide scientific and practical insights that support the transition toward cleaner, more efficient, and climate-neutral industrial thermal processes. Studies addressing systems-level perspectives are also welcome, including techno-economic analysis, lifecycle assessment, and process integration of low-carbon industrial thermal systems. Topic editors: Natalia Cid, Nico Schmitz Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83235/decarbonization-of-thermal-processes-in-hard-to-abate-industries