When we talk about reducing emissions, we usually think of electric cars, renewable energies or recycling. But there is a silent, giant and highly polluting sector that often goes unnoticed: the chemical industry.
In Spain, this sector is one of the largest consumers of energy and, at the same time, one of the most difficult to “decarbonize” because it relies heavily on natural gas to generate heat. This heat is indispensable for manufacturing everyday products such as plastics, fertilizers, paints and medicines.
The good news is that there is a proven alternative ready to be used: electric boilers. In this article we tell you how this technology can change the rules of the game, what public policies can accelerate its adoption and what impact it would have in our country.
The problem: a gas addiction that pollutes and costs dearly
The Spanish chemical industry is one of the main consumers of energy in the industrial sector. Much of this energy is used in the form of process heat generated by natural gas boilers.
The result: a very high volume of CO₂ emissions that makes it more difficult to achieve the decarbonization targets set by the European Union for 2030 and 2050.
This pie chart shows the percentage of the Spanish chemical industry’s energy consumption that comes from natural gas vs. electricity.
Moreover, this dependence on gas exposes companies to fluctuations in the international energy market, as we have seen in recent years with soaring prices following the European energy crisis.
The opportunity: cleaner, more efficient electric boilers
Electric boilers are not science fiction. They have been in use for years and have reached a very high level of technological maturity. Among their advantages are the following:
- Superior efficiency: they convert almost 99% of electricity into useful heat, compared to approximately 90% for gas-fired ones.
- Lower emissions: if they are powered by renewable electricity (solar, wind, hydro), their carbon footprint is practically zero.
- Flexible installation: they do not depend on gas pipelines or complex infrastructures, which makes them viable even in plants far from large energy centers.
- Sufficient heat: they can reach up to 600 °C, more than enough for most low and medium temperature chemical processes.
Comparison of efficiency bars between gas boiler (90%) and electric boiler (99%).
The role of policies: how to make the transition attractive
The challenge is not technological, but one of cost. For Spanish companies to make the leap, public policies are needed to make electric boilers more competitive.
Some measures that could make a difference are:
- Carbon tax: penalize CO₂ emissions derived from using natural gas.
- Specific gas tax: progressively increase the cost of the fossil option.
- Industrial electricity subsidies: reduce the price per MWh for high efficiency electrical processes.
- Aid for initial investment: subsidies or soft loans to cover part of the cost of installation.
The most important thing here is that this system can be designed in a balanced way: revenues from gas and carbon taxes are used to finance electricity subsidies and grants.
Infographic with the balanced policy cycle we have designed: Gas and CO₂ taxes → Funds → Subsidies and grants → Lower emissions.
Expected results in Spain
If Spain drives this transition, the benefits would be enormous:
- The chemical industry could reduce its emissions by around 80-90% over the next decade, far exceeding European climate targets.
- Electric boiler costs would fall by 30% to 80% thanks to the demand generated and economies of scale.
- Companies would gain energy independence, reducing their exposure to international gas volatility.
What would this look like in practice?
Imagine a chemical plant in Tarragona, one of the areas with the highest industrial concentration in Spain. Today it uses a 10 MW gas boiler for its processes.
Replacing it with an electric one would entail a significant investment and a higher operating cost at current prices. But if we apply a combination of gas taxes + electricity subsidies + investment subsidies, the change from being a burden to becoming a profitable opportunity.
The great challenge: to go along with a renewable electricity system
For this transition to make sense, it is essential that the electricity used comes from renewable sources.
Spain has an advantage: more than 50% of the country’s electricity is already generated with clean energies, and the goal is to achieve a 100% renewable electricity system by 2050. If we add to this the abundance of sun and wind, electric boilers make perfect sense in the Spanish context.
An opportunity that Spain should not miss
The electrification of industrial heat through electric boilers is not only a technological advance: it is one of the most realistic and effective levers for decarbonizing the chemical industry in Spain.
With well-designed policies, emissions savings of up to 90% can be achieved in just a decade, without the cost falling exclusively on companies or public administration.
This is one of those win-win opportunities:
- Companies, because they reduce their dependence on gas and stabilize their costs.
- The planet, because it receives fewer polluting emissions.
- Society, because we are moving towards a cleaner and safer energy model.
The big question is: will the Spanish government and industries have the courage to take the plunge in time?