Electrification of Industrial Heat with High-Temperature Steam-Generating Heat Pumps
Skyven Technologies proposes to bring an innovative, industrial-steam-generating, heat pump technology to low-rate initial production (LRIP).
Skyven Technologies, Inc.
Recipient
Richardson, TX
Recipient Location
$844,873
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
In 2025, the Skyven team developed preliminary 2D and 3D CAD models and drawings for all major subsystems and completed the detailed engineering deliverables report. Skyven also advanced its software modeling tool such that when provided with a set of highlevel system inputs, the tool can automatically recommend the appropriate equipment type and size for the full system. Additionally, Skyven commissioned a demonstration system during the past year which serves as a realworld validation of the system’s engineering.
The Issue
A key barrier to achieving California’s statutory energy goals is a lack of efficient and economically attractive technologies to electrify the massive thermal energy demands associated with steam production in the chemicals, food and beverage, and pulp and paper sectors. State-of-the-art industrial heat pumps today are unable to reach the temperatures required to produce medium-pressure saturated steam required by many California industrial facilities. State-of-the-art electric boiler technologies, on the other hand, are indeed able to reach required temperatures and pressures, but they do so with a low coefficient of performance (COP) of 1.0 or less. This results in excessive electricity consumption, making these systems uneconomical to operate. Additionally, the high electricity consumption may add undue strain on the state’s electric power grid.
Project Innovation
Skyven Technologies proposes to bring an innovative, industrial-steam-generating, heat pump technology to low-rate initial production (LRIP). This new electric heat pump technology recycles industrial heat waste to aid in the production of industrial steam at temperatures and pressures that have only been achievable using traditional fossil fuel fired boilers. Skyven has already proven the efficacy of this technology in custom-engineered installations. With this grant, they seek to substantially lower installation costs by bringing a packaged, pre-engineered family of systems into LRIP. This simplified design and production process will create a commercially viable solution for electrifying industrial steam generation.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
The proposed technology directly produces steam at pressures up to 20 barg (290 psig) and does so with a COP that is 50% higher than state-of-the-art heat pumps at apples-to-apples operating conditions, resulting in proportionally lower electric demand and operating costs. The proposed technology uses water as a refrigerant, with the benefits of being low-cost, safe, non-toxic, and zero-GWP. Achieving LRIP will also help mitigate the perceived risks of custom engineering and one-off assembly of this technology.
Affordability
Compared with the leading alternative steam electrification technology, electric boilers, the proposed technology will consume at least three times less electricity.
Reliability
Industrial electrification supports greater grid reliability due to the baseload nature of the electrical loads. Adding baseload to the grid reduces the magnitude of the duck curve in proportion to the total grid load, leading to greater grid reliability.
Key Project Members
Arun Gupta
Subrecipients
Bay City Boiler & Engineering Co., Inc.
PILLER Blowers & Compressors
Match Partners
Skyven Technologies, Inc.
