The industrial sector is responsible for over one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 50% of global energy demand. While electricity is an essential input for industry, process heat often represents the bulk of energy needs, and it is obtained mainly by burning fossil fuels on-site. For the industrial sector to decarbonise, heavy emitters with high-temperature processes, such as the cement and steel industries, need fundamental changes to production technologies. Industries operating at lower temperatures must drive efficiencies and transform their energy mix. This study complements previous cost-benefit analyses for electricity and thermal energy generated from renewable and sustainable sources at South African beverage manufacturers. It includes a review of investments already made or being considered for a representative sample of beverage facilities. With project investment returns of 20% or more and payback of 2–4 years in South Africa, megawatt-scale photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems are capturing the major share of investment considerations. Immediate benefits include the mitigation against load-shedding events and double-digit electricity tariff increases. Where processes need steam, high-temperature heat pumps and solar thermal energy systems can replace liquid fossil fuels. However, sustainable thermal energy systems are not expected to be cost-efficient against coal for at least another decade. Through a detailed analysis of a returnable bottler washer in a soft drink facility, this research demonstrates that upgrading waste heat streams through industrial heat pumps can reduce the dependence on coal, especially where processes can be converted to hot water systems. Where steam remains a requirement, future studies modelling key processes will remain essential to define financially attractive opportunities. More broadly, policy support and effective carbon taxes will be necessary if industry is to reduce its reliance on coal meaningfully.