Industrial electrification: a decisive lever for decarbonization or still a risky gamble?

Essential for achieving climate goals, the electrification of industry is gradually emerging as an alternative to fossil fuels. With electricity potentially accounting for up to 70% of industrial energy by 2050, compared to around a third today, this transition appears unavoidable. However, between substantial investments, price uncertainties, and technical constraints, it remains as much an industrial challenge as an energy one.

Why is electrification becoming a turning point for industry?

Decarbonizing industry is a major challenge: in France, it accounts for approximately 17% of greenhouse gas emissions, making it one of the main emitting sectors.

In this context, electrification appears as an essential path. Today, nearly two-thirds of industrial energy still relies on fossil fuels, highlighting the scale of the transformation to come.

In France, this issue takes on a particular dimension: the low-carbon electricity mix constitutes a strategic lever to rapidly reduce emissions while strengthening energy sovereignty.

Mature technologies… but still uneven adoption?

Contrary to some misconceptions, industrial electrification is no longer a prospective concept. It is already underway.

Today, the electricity consumption of French industry amounts to approximately 100 TWh per year, concentrated in a few key sectors such as metallurgy, chemicals and agri-food.

Electric furnaces, industrial heat pumps or electrochemical processes already make it possible to replace some of the fossil fuel uses.

What does electrification actually look like in the building sector?

In the construction materials industry, the first applications are multiplying.

The Saint-Gobain group, a major player in building materials, has launched several projects to electrify its processes, particularly in glass production. At some pilot sites in Europe, hybrid or fully electric furnaces are being tested to replace natural gas, resulting in a significant reduction in CO₂ emissions.

In the cement sector, historically very dependent on fossil fuels, manufacturers such as Holcim or Heidelberg Materials are also experimenting with solutions combining partial electrification, heat recovery and new low-carbon processes.

These initiatives are still limited to certain sites or demonstrators, but they illustrate a fundamental trend: electrification is progressing, including in the most energy-intensive building industries.

Why does scaling up remain the main challenge?

The real issue is no longer so much technological as it is economic and systemic.

By 2050, the electricity consumption of French industry could double to reach approximately 200 TWh, due to the electrification of processes and the development of decarbonized hydrogen.

This increase in power poses several challenges:

Massive investments to transform industrial tools
Uncertain electricity prices, often higher than gas prices in the short term
Infrastructure needs to be adapted, with growing network requirements.

As an illustration, the French electricity network will require tens of billions of euros of investment by 2040 to support this transformation.

What conditions are needed to turn this industrial experiment into a reality?

Several conditions appear essential to make this transition a success.

First, provide visibility for manufacturers. Stable electricity prices are a key factor in securing investments.

Next, accelerate the deployment of infrastructure. By 2030, some scenarios already predict an increase in industrial consumption of around 110 TWh, driven by the first electrification and hydrogen projects.

Finally, to structure a genuine industrial sector for electrification and to support companies in adapting their processes.