Steam Heat Pump

This is Aii’s first China-based grant project. In China, factories purchase steam from a centralized source in the industrial park, making the financial transition to electrification more challenging. Proving this is possible will have a big impact on the future of electrification in China.

This project replaces purchased steam in textile dyeing operations with high-temperature industrial heat pumps powered by electricity. The system includes both a high-temperature hot water heat pump and a steam heat pump, representing a transition from purchased steam to on-site electrified heat generation, with the potential to significantly reduce emissions when paired with renewable electricity. This will replace 33% of the factory’s purchased steam needs.

This solution has strong scalability potential as it replaces a widely used energy input, steam, with electrified alternatives. However, scaling depends on access to renewable electricity, the cost competitiveness of electricity versus steam, and the ability to integrate systems into existing infrastructure. Demonstrating performance and financial viability will be key to broader adoption.