Renewable micro-grids and electrification of industrial processes

With the growing international concern about greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy sources are gradually replacing fossil fuels. However, two major issues limit the further development of renewable energy sources. One is that the fluctuations of renewable energy sources require smarter and more reliable microgrid technologies. The other is how existing industries, as major energy users, can consume these renewable energy sources.

In traditional process industries, heat is used as the main energy carrier to drive reactions, separations and even sometimes transport through a turbine. Heat is usually generated by cogeneration of heat and electricity through a boiler or gas turbine, which leads to high CO2 emissions. To make industrial processes cleaner and greener, more green energy should be used, which means that more processes should be driven by energy rather than heat. To achieve this, energy-driven reaction and separation technologies should be developed to reduce the heat demand. In addition, some technologies can be developed to efficiently generate heat using electricity. Due to the fluctuations of renewable energy, the entire system (renewable energy, microgrid, energy storage and industrial end users) should be studied to ensure that it is robust and reliable under extreme conditions. Therefore, advanced system engineering methodologies are required to make the systems more economical and efficient.

This Research Topic aims to address the challenges of renewable microgrids and electrification technologies in the industrial energy system. Authors are invited to submit original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews.

We encourage you to submit articles on the following topics:
• State-of-the-art renewable micro-grid technologies
• Cutting-edge industrial electrification technologies
• Smart renewable micro-grid technologies
• Industrial electric heater/boiler technologies
• Industrial technologies for electrical reaction and separation
• Integration of renewable energy sources, micro-grids and industrial energy systems
• Paths to industrial electrification in net-zero carbon dioxide emissions conditions
• Advanced heat pump technologies
• Technical-economic and life-cycle analysis of industrial systems with new electrification technologies

Keywords: Renewable Microgrids, Industrial Electrification, Techno-Economic Analysis, Advanced Heat Pump Technologies, Industrial Energy Systems, Advanced Systems Engineering, Energy-Driven Reaction and Separation Technologies, Life Cycle Analysis

Important note: All work within this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which it is submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to refer an out-of-scope manuscript to a more appropriate section or journal at any stage of peer review.

With the growing international concern about greenhouse gas emissions, renewable energy sources are gradually replacing fossil fuels. However, two major issues limit the further development of renewable energy sources. One is that the fluctuations of renewable energy sources require smarter and more reliable microgrid technologies. The other is how existing industries, as major energy users, can consume these renewable energy sources.

In traditional process industries, heat is used as the main energy carrier to drive reactions, separations and even sometimes transport through a turbine. Heat is usually generated by cogeneration of heat and electricity through a boiler or gas turbine, which leads to high CO2 emissions. To make industrial processes cleaner and greener, more green energy should be used, which means that more processes should be driven by energy rather than heat. To achieve this, energy-driven reaction and separation technologies should be developed to reduce the heat demand. In addition, some technologies can be developed to efficiently generate heat using electricity. Due to the fluctuations of renewable energy, the entire system (renewable energy, microgrid, energy storage and industrial end users) should be studied to ensure that it is robust and reliable under extreme conditions. Therefore, advanced system engineering methodologies are required to make the systems more economical and efficient.

This Research Topic aims to address the challenges of renewable microgrids and electrification technologies in the industrial energy system. Authors are invited to submit original research articles, reviews, and mini-reviews.

We encourage you to submit articles on the following topics:
• State-of-the-art renewable micro-grid technologies
• Cutting-edge industrial electrification technologies
• Smart renewable micro-grid technologies
• Industrial electric heater/boiler technologies
• Industrial technologies for electrical reaction and separation
• Integration of renewable energy sources, micro-grids and industrial energy systems
• Paths to industrial electrification in net-zero carbon dioxide emissions conditions
• Advanced heat pump technologies
• Technical-economic and life-cycle analysis of industrial systems with new electrification technologies

Keywords: Renewable Microgrids, Industrial Electrification, Techno-Economic Analysis, Advanced Heat Pump Technologies, Industrial Energy Systems, Advanced Systems Engineering, Energy-Driven Reaction and Separation Technologies, Life Cycle Analysis

Important note: All work within this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which it is submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to refer an out-of-scope manuscript to a more appropriate section or journal at any stage of peer review.