After 10 years working in the industry with strategy, business and engineering, one day around 2017 I found myself surrounded by curiosity about the possibility of electrifying pyrolysis furnaces to drastically reduce the units' greenhouse gas emissions.

The opportunity was very clear, old units could benefit from technological update projects and make a leap in energy efficiency, drastically reduce their emissions and high natural gas costs, in addition to allowing the production of methane derivatives on a certain scale.

A Google search to evaluate trends on the topic did not show relevant results for 2017. It was likely that the topic would be developed in symposiums, although particular interests and the timing did not favor its dissemination.

Recognized by a curious and practical profile, I promptly accessed the social network to consult an American specialist from a pyrolysis furnace technology licensor about technical feasibility. The answer was clear: "it's possible, but I don't want to get involved in the matter."

A remarkable moment happened in 2019 when a co-worker, familiar with my tireless provocations, asked what the best idea so far had been. The answer was point blank: electric furnaces!

From 2019 onwards, news about research and investments by chemical companies has multiplied, such as Dow and Shell, BASF, SABIC and Linde and the Borealis, BP, Total, Repsol and Versalis consortium. NexantECA released a special report on carbon intensity.

"Science has set the trajectory: we must move away from coal by 2030, from oil by 2045, and from gas by 2050."
Emmanuel Macron, Dec 27, 2023

The name and image make references to coils used in pyrolysis furnaces while the golden color represents electrical energy, emphasizing the potential of this transformation of first generation assets that support a relevant sector of the economy.