Estimating the South African Industrial Heat Demand Potential for CO ₂ Heat Pumps

Abstract

The industrial sector is the largest thermal energy consumer in South Africa, accounting for 80% of the total heat demand. Currently, thermal energy is primarily supplied by fossil fuels and electricity. Heat pumps have the potential to reduce energy demand in this sector. In order to develop this application one need to determine which industrial sectors have the highest potential for the integration of heat pumps. This paper investigates the potential for industrial heat demand below 100°C for 13 sectors. Based on the IEA [1] data, the total heat demand below 100°C is about 220 [PJ/annum]. The sector with the highest theoretical potential is the non-specified industry with a share of nearly 80.4% which is equal to 176.5 [PJ/annum]. The chemical and petrochemicals industry has the second largest potential with a share of nearly 9.9% or 21.8 [PJ/annum]. The remaining sectors all together make up the rest of the 9.6% or 21.1 [PJ/annum].

Keywords: Industrial heat demand; South Africa; Heat pumps