The heat is on: Policy solutions for industrial electrification
Jan Rosenow, Cordin Arpagaus, Stefan Lechtenböhmer, Sem Oxenaar, Elian Pusceddu
Abstract
Industrial electrification is vital for achieving net-zero climate targets due to its dual benefits: decarbonising energy use and improving energy efficiency. While sectors like transportation and space heating have seen substantial policy-driven progress, industrial electrification is lagging behind, with so far minimal uptake in process heating. Barriers such as economic, technical, knowledge and infrastructural challenges hinder broader adoption. This paper addresses the gap in research on industrial electrification policy by categorising instruments and analysing their implementation across 10 European nations. The study uses a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review and an expert survey. The research highlights an insufficient regulatory framework to drive industrial electrification and limited policymaker prioritisation of electrification of industry. While some countries have implemented comprehensive industrial electrification policies, including innovative instruments, most of the countries studied do not have a sufficiently robust policy framework.