New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Research update on… industrial heat and energy efficiency
9/7/2025
10 min read
Feature
Various challenging aspects of industrial decarbonisation have been explored to determine innovative solutions for reducing emissions, improving energy efficiency and promoting sustainability. The research showcases advancements in energy systems, energy management, sustainable fuels and training resources, write Associate Professor Janie Ling-Chin and Professor of Energy Systems Anthony Paul Roskilly, Durham University. Here is an abridged synthesis of UK research on these topics commissioned by the UK Industrial Decarbonisation Research and Innovation Centre (IDRIC) over recent years.
UK industry sectors released approximately 61mn tonnes of CO2e from production processes and fuel combustion alone in 2019. This figure would be significantly higher if emissions from electricity generation and fuel supply were included. These industry sectors account for approximately 18% of the nation’s total annual energy consumption.
Of the 270 TWh consumed in 2019, 54.1% and 4.1% of energy were used to meet heating and cooling demand, 146 TWh and 11 TWh respectively. The heating demand – representing 23.2% of the UK’s total heating demand – is currently met by a combination of 50% gas, 26% electricity, 5.5% solid fuel, 4.1% oil, 9.6% bioenergy and waste, and 5.5% direct heat. This energy is used for low- and high-temperature processes (37.7% and 22.6%, respectively), 12.3% drying and separation processes, 12% for space heating, and 14.4% other industrial uses, while the cooling demand is supplied entirely by electricity. These industrial processes collectively release approximately 62 TWh/y of waste heat through exhaust, cooling liquid and radiant heat, according to a 2021 UK government study.
Waste heat