Environmental protection has gained considerably in importance since climate change has been recognized as one of the most difficult challenges for mankind. Despite agreed climate targets, global emissions of Greenhouse gases have actually increased over the last three decades. Especially in the energy-intensive industrial sector, there is still great potential for CO₂-reduction, which has not yet been exploited.

CO₂-emissions from industry are hard to abate for a number of reasons. Decarbonization usually requires a mix of measures to tackle energy related as well as process relates emissions. Nevertheless, as part of the efforts in the electrification of heat, the efficient decarbonization of heat in the temperature range 200 – 600 Celsius is possible based on novel high-temperature heat pumps (HTHP) under development at the new Institute of Low-Carbon Industrial Processes of the German Aerospace Center.

The talk will introduce different decarbonization options for the industrial sector, give an overview on the research of the new Institute, and details the principles of the novel HTHPs.