The Future of Steam Technology
What’s Next?
04/11/2025
Steam has been the backbone of industry for more than a century, it’s hard to imagine the Industrial revolution ever taking place without steam. From powering food and beverage production lines to sterilisation in healthcare, to critical processes in pharmaceuticals and chemicals, steam has proven itself to be efficient, versatile, safe, easy to control and reliable.
But the world is changing. With rising energy costs, stricter regulations, and ambitious net-zero commitments, industries are under pressure to rethink how they generate and use steam.
At Spirax Sarco, we believe steam is not part of the problem it’s part of the solution. By driving innovation and embracing emerging technologies, steam systems can play a pivotal role in decarbonisation while continuing to deliver safe, consistent, and efficient energy.
This eBook explores what’s next for steam technology and how Spirax Sarco is helping organisations unlock its full potential.
1. Why Steam Still Matters
Despite being centuries old steam remains:
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Highly efficient – its energy density makes it one of the most effective heat transfer mediums.
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Flexible – suitable for heating, sterilisation, drying, power generation, and more.
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Scalable – from small-scale labs to global manufacturing plants, steam can adapt to demand.
Steam’s future is not in question. What matters is how it ishow it is perceived, produced, distributed, and managed to meet the challenges of decarbonisation.
2. The Drivers of Change
Several forces are shaping the next chapter of steam technology:
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Net-zero regulations: Governments are tightening emissions targets, requiring industries to cut carbon intensity.
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Energy costs: Volatile gas and electricity prices make efficiency more critical than ever.
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Digital transformation: Data-driven insights and smart monitoring are redefining how systems are managed.
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Corporate responsibility: Customers, investors, and stakeholders expect genuine sustainability progress.
These challenges are also opportunities and steam systems are well positioned to respond.
3. Emerging Trends in Steam Technology
a) Hybrid Steam Systems
Hybrid solutions combine traditional boilers with electric or renewable-powered alternatives. These systems can automatically switch between energy sources depending on cost, demand, and carbon intensity, providing flexibility and resilience.
b) Renewable Integration
Steam systems can increasingly draw on renewable energy:
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Electrification with renewable electricity via electric boilers.
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Biomass and biogas to displace fossil fuels.
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Solar thermal pre-heating to reduce boiler load.
c) Digitalisation and Smart Monitoring
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is enabling:
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Real-time efficiency monitoring.
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Predictive maintenance to reduce downtime.
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Automated optimisation to minimise waste and emissions.
d) Advanced Efficiency Measures
From improved insulation to flash steam recovery, the latest technologies reduce energy losses and enhance sustainability across the system lifecycle.
4. Overcoming the Challenges
The transition to low-carbon steam is not without hurdles:
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Infrastructure limits: Some sites lack grid capacity for electrification.
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Capital investment pressures: Funding large upgrades can be a barrier.
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Skills gap:Operating advanced hybrid and digital systems requires training.
Spirax Sarco works with organisations to overcome these barriers by:
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Delivering modular solutions that scale with need.
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Supporting grant and funding applications (e.g., UK IETF and PSDS).
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Providing training and expertise to empower teams.
5. The Business Case for Innovation
Investing in the future of steam delivers more than compliance. It creates:
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Lower operating costs through efficiency gains.
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Regulatory alignment with evolving decarbonisation standards.
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Stronger resilience against energy price volatility.
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Enhanced reputation as a sustainability leader.
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Reduced Downtime by enabling digital systems to predict maintenance requirements.
In short, innovation in steam is not just good for the planet -it’s good for business.
6. Spirax Sarco: Leading the Way
At Spirax Sarco, innovation is in our DNA. We are actively shaping the future of steam by:
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Developing hybrid and renewable-ready solutions.
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Integrating digital monitoring tools that give real-time insight and control.
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Optimising existing systems through audits, upgrades, and maintenance.
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Partnering with customers to design bespoke solutions for their net-zero journeys.
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Every system, site, and industry is different. Our role is to help organisations chart a practical, effective, and sustainable path forward.
7. What’s Next for Steam?
A steam system that was installed 70 years ago may very well have been fit for purpose at that time - Gas (and therefore steam) was cheap, and we were unaware of the consequences of CO2 emissions. Steam systems need to flex and grow in order to address the challenges and expectations we have today.
The future of steam is not about replacement -it’s about reinvention. Steam will continue to be indispensable, but the way it is generated and managed will evolve dramatically over the next decade.
From hybrid systems to digital integration, from renewable fuels to smart efficiency upgrades, the next generation of steam technology is already here. The challenge and the opportunity are to embrace it.
Final Thoughts
Regulatory compliance and sustainability targets may be driving change, but innovation in steam technology makes it possible to go further — to cut emissions, reduce costs, and build resilience all at once.
At Spirax Sarco, we’re proud to lead the way in driving this innovation. Together with our customers, we’re proving that steam can not only survive in a low-carbon world but thrive as a key part of the solution.
Ready to explore the future of steam at your site?Let’s start the conversation.
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Conductivity Meters
Measures the conductivity of a liquid, degree of purity is established. The amount of dissolved solids in boiler water can be directly related to its conductivity level.