Powering Industry: Cross-Regional Strategies for Electrification

​Industrial electrification—shifting industrial heat and processes from fossil fuels to clean electricity—is essential to achieving global net-zero targets. Two-thirds of industrial energy demand and about 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions today come from process heat and feedstock, which are still predominantly fossil-based. At the same time, the rapid expansion of renewable energy offers a unique opportunity to decarbonise the industry sector while enhancing energy security and competitiveness.

​Yet, progress remains uneven. While Europe and parts of Asia are advancing pilot projects and policy frameworks, many emerging economies face barriers linked to renewable energy availability, electricity costs, and grid readiness. A cross-regional approach is therefore essential: to share best practices, align standards, accelerate the diffusion of technology, and coordinate investments that link industrial transformation with renewable power expansion. For emerging economies, electrification can help modernize industrial production, create new clean-tech markets, and align industrial growth with sustainability goals, ensuring competitiveness in a decarbonizing global economy.

​This COP side event will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, and think-tank experts from Asian economies to discuss regional challenges and opportunities for industrial electrification. The high-level panel session will also explore how strategic partnerships can drive a faster, fairer, and more efficient industrial transformation.