Break-even of high-temperature heat pump integration for milk spray drying

•Method for the identification of integration points at break-even are developed.•Performance models of high-temperature heat pumps concepts are presented.•Electricity-to-reference price ratio requisites for milk spray drying are rated.•Break-even price ratios for full supply of this process lie between 1.20 and 1.56.•Transcritical cascade heat pump concepts seems most promising.