Current Projects
In order to overcome the barriers in wide-scale renewable thermal deployment, the Renewable Thermal Collaborative hosts working groups open to RTC members and sponsors, interested thermal energy buyers, and outside experts to come together to discuss potential solutions. If you are interested in joining one of our working groups, contact Blaine Collison at blaine@dgardiner.com
Industrial Electrification
Industrial thermal energy needs, especially for heat, are a significant challenge for climate change mitigation efforts. Worldwide, industrial heat makes up two-thirds of industrial energy demand and almost one-fifth of total energy consumption. However, only ten percent of this demand is met using renewable energy. In the U.S., fossil fuel combustion to produce heat and steam used for process heating, process reactions, and process evaporation, concentration, and drying creates about 52 percent of the country’s industrial direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
There is a significant opportunity to decarbonize the industrial sector by shifting heat production away from carbon-intensive fossil fuels to clean sources such as electrification where low- or zero-carbon electricity is used.
Renewable Natural Gas
Working with the Downstream Natural Gas Initiative at MJ Bradley & Associates, the Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) Working Group is working to develop a Draft Action Plan to accelerate deployment of RNG solutions for commercial, industrial, and institutional energy users.
Solar Thermal
Thermal energy is a key component of energy use in the United States and around the world, particularly in the industrial sector. Energy used for process heat and space heating accounts for 75 percent of global final industrial energy demand. In the U.S., fossil fuel combustion to produce heat and steam creates about 52 percent of U.S. industrial direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
At present, renewable energy meets only 13 percent of global industrial heat demand. Solar thermal technologies produce less than 1 percent of global industrial heat, despite having a much greater technical potential.
Our Solar Thermal Technology Assessment (TA) is designed to provide the substantive basis for RTC members to consider developing a full solar thermal TAP.
GHG Accounting & Claims
The increasing interest in renewable and decarbonized thermal energy solutions has highlighted the need to consider how these strategies and solutions are treated under greenhouse gas accounting frameworks and claims guidance.
The GHG Accounting & Claims Working Group seeks to review these issues and develop a cohesive perspective that captures industrial and corporate efforts to decarbonize thermal energy use and Scope One emissions.