Process intensification for decentralized production

In this short paper I give my perspective on what in my opinion is fundamentally Process Intensification (PI), and what the practical future of process intensification may be. Some of the definitions which have been given over the years to process intensification are critically revisited, and a somewhat modified definition which focuses on the nature (quality) of the technology, as opposed to only its quantifiable measures, is suggested. I then suggest that the main impact PI technologies will make is in decentralized (or distributed) production. A few key processes, currently of most interest, which if distributed would create industrial suction for PI technologies, are delineated. These technologies have a high potential to enable the transition from large scale centralized production to distributed production.