Top electricity consuming industries

The industries that use the most electricity worldwide (and in most developed economies) are typically the ones with energy-intensive manufacturing or processing operations. Here’s a breakdown of the top electricity-consuming industries:

1. Aluminum and Non-Ferrous Metals

• Reason: Smelting aluminum requires massive amounts of electricity for electrolysis.
• Share: Up to 10% of total industrial electricity use in some countries.

2. Steel and Iron Production

• Reason: Electric arc furnaces (EAF) and other heating processes consume vast amounts of power.
• Common Users: Steel mills, foundries.

3. Chemical Industry

• Reason: Production of ammonia, chlorine, plastics, and other chemical compounds needs continuous, high-power processes.
• Includes: Fertilizer, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals.

4. Pulp and Paper

• Reason: The mechanical pulping, drying, and bleaching processes are very electricity-intensive.
• Notable for you: The paper industry is consistently among the top five electricity users in manufacturing sectors worldwide.

5. Cement and Glass

• Reason: High-temperature kilns and grinding processes use a mix of electricity and fossil fuels.

6. Data Centers / IT Services (rapidly growing)

• Reason: Servers and cooling systems operate 24/7.
• Trend: Expected to surpass some heavy industries in electricity use by the 2030s.

7. Petroleum Refining

• Reason: Though much of its energy comes from burning by-products, it still uses significant electricity for pumps, compressors, and lighting.

In short:

• Historically: Aluminum, steel, chemicals, and paper are the biggest industrial electricity users.
• Emerging: Data centers are catching up fast as digital infrastructure grows.