Electric Steam Boilers vs Traditional Boilers: What’s Right for Your Setup?

One of the most important decisions for any facility in the industrial sector is to choose the right boiler. Boilers power everything from heating and sterilization to process manufacturing, making it integral to any productivity industry. As technology progresses, many industries are caught in the decision to use either electric steam boilers or traditional steam boilers. But where do electric steam boilers rank compared to traditional steam boilers regarding efficiency, cost, and sustainability? 

This guide will explain the differences between electric vs traditional boilers; we will break down industrial boiler types, operational costs, and long-term payoffs so you can determine the best decision for your application.

Industrial Boiler Types

Before getting into the comparison of electric vs traditional boilers it is worth explaining the basics of industrial boiler types. 

1. In traditional steam boilers typically found in industry, fossil fuels such as oil, coal, or natural gas are combusted.They burn fuel to produce heat and then produce steam for industrial uses. 
2. In electric steam boilers, electricity is used to heat water to build steam. Electric boilers do not combust at all in this process, and therefore in many instances they are considered to be more environmentally friendly because they also tend to be smaller in footprint. 

Electricity and a traditional boiler are significant contributors to part of the process of generating heat for an industrial application, yet costs, efficiency, maintenance and environmental aspects differ.

Traditional Steam Boilers: Dependable but Resource-Intensive

For countless years, traditional steam boilers have been the industry standard. They are powerful, proven, and effective for heavy-duty service.

1. Steam boiler efficiency: traditional boilers can produce high outputs, but the efficiency is arguably driven by fuel type, maintenance, and the quality of combustion.
2. Cost of installation: The initial installation costs of  boilers is likely to be higher than electric, in particular where gas or oil lines exist.
3. Analysis of energy consumption: These boilers use large amounts of fuel, which can drive operating costs up and down as the cost of fuel fluctuates.
4. Maintenance: The combustion system will require cleaning and inspection often enough which will drive other service requirements.

While traditional boilers are solid, they come with hidden costs associated with fuel expense, emissions, and maintenance.

Electric Steam Boilers: Efficient and Eco-Conscious

Electric steam boilers are gaining popularity across industries with the progressive interest in sustainability. Their design does away with combustion, making them cleaner and easier to service.

1. Steam boiler efficiency: Electric boilers are efficient; often converting nearly all input energy into steam.
2. Eco-friendly boilers: Since electric boilers don’t produce local emissions, electric is a solution you should consider if you are concerned with your carbon footprint.
3. Low maintenance boilers: Electric boilers have few moving parts and no burners, meaning that they typically require much less maintenance than a traditional boiler system.
4. Energy consumption analysis: Electricity rates do vary by jurisdiction; however, electric systems tend to have predictable operational expenses and, generally, more predictable relative to fuel gas fired systems.

Electric systems are attractive to industrial applications looking for eco-friendly boilers with reliability and low maintenance overall.

Electric vs Traditional Boiler Costs

One of the most common questions plant managers ask concerns cost. Let’s break it down for you: 

1. The cost to install a boiler: If exploring a traditional boiler and existing fuel infrastructure – the installation cost may be lower. Installing an electric boiler may necessitate upgrading the system’s electrical capacity to withstand on-demand heating and increases initial costs. 
2. The cost to operate a boiler: The biggest uncertainty for traditional boiler operating expenses has to do with volatility in the global fuel markets. In comparison, electricity users tend to have more stable costs. Depending on energy costs in your area, operating an electric boiler may lower your long term costing over time. 
3. The cost to maintain a boiler: Traditional systems require regular tuning of the burner, cleanings and proportional emissions monitoring. A low maintenance boiler will often save on costly servicing and will keep downtime low since the cost of maintenance can become a burden over longer periods. 
4. The lifetime cost for a boiler: Considering all installation, fuel, maintenance and replacement, electric boiler systems may prove competitive (lower priced), especially for operations looking to become increasingly sustainable and reduce carbon footprint. 

Energy consumption analysis

Completing an energy consumption analysis is a critical step in evaluating electric vs traditional boilers.

1. Although a traditional steam boiler powered by natural gas can offer high heat output, it could also lead to higher emissions and higher fuel bills in the future.
2. An electric steam boiler may use higher-priced electricity but effectively lowers operating losses, and achieves almost 100% efficiency.

Making the correct decision in addressing which type is better is usually clear based on the local energy markets and your facility production needs.

Eco-Friendly Boilers and Sustainability Goals

Numerous companies are currently changing to greener alternatives. Companies with stringent, exacting environmental regulations, and companies truly committed to reducing carbon emissions, will see a larger benefit from more effective, eco-friendly industrial boilers (i.e., electric systems). 

An electric boiler is a way to operate emissions-free in the work place. Unlike traditional boilers that create carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, or other greenhouse gases as a result of burning natural gas, electric boilers do not create these emissions. Electric boilers can play an important role in an operationally sustainable industrial strategy if powered from renewable utilities instead of the unwanted emissions from burning a powered-fuel boiler.

Which Boiler Type is Right for Your Setup?

Choosing between an electric steam boiler and a traditional steam boiler involves many considerations:

1. Energy Source – If your facility also provides inexpensive, reliable electricity (or has a sufficient energy credit from your local utility) to replace fuel for an electric boiler is available it is a better consideration. If your facility has no available local electricity supply, then traditional fuel is likely your only option.
2. Initial Budget and Installation – Traditional systems may also be selected due to overall lesser upfront costs than electric systems, but electric systems may provide overall savings after the initial upfront portion is completed of installation.
3. Maintenance Capacity – Facilities that have limited maintenance personnel appreciate the ease of the use of electric systems. 
4. Sustainability Desires – If reducing carbon footprint is priority one, electric boilers fundamentally fulfill environmentally practices. 
5. Scale of Operations – traditional boilers still dominate the very large, high-capacity sector. Electric boilers compete favorably for smaller to medium size setups.

Best solution for your facility

At Noble Associates, we know the importance of making the right boiler selection and its impact on the performance and costs for the facility. With decades of experience on different industrial boiler types, we are here to assist industries to understand their options for the purpose of identifying opportunities for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.

The choice between electric steam boilers and traditional steam boilers should not be construed as one being an objectively superior option – the commitment lies with matching the best-fit solution for your facility. Traditional boilers are still powerful and proven for operations with high demand, however, traditional boilers will carry more maintenance related jobs, and more risks associated with the fuel supply.  Electric boilers, by comparison, are the steadiest performance, least preferred maintenance, and in terms of carbon emissions, the most environmentally friendly option for an industrial strategy based on sustainability and reliability.

With the help of  Noble Associates, your company can begin to implement solutions that achieve optimal operational performance plus cost savings plus enhanced environmental stewardship.