Steam　generating　heat　pump　(SGHP)　is　a　key　technology　for　industrial　decarbonization.　For　comprehensive　evaluation　of　the　feasibility　and　reliability　of　SGHP　in　different　industrial　sector,　the　work　develops　a　thorough　evaluation　model　for　assessing　the　performance　of　SGHP　by　considering　waste　heat　recovery,　CO2　trading　value,　and　pollutant　emission　cost,　in　addition　to　the　conventional　evaluation　criteria.　This　work　presents　a　thorough　comparison　of　the　thermodynamic　performance　and　sustainability　of　various　types　of　SGHPs　across　different　industrial　sector.　Additionally,　the　conflicting　relationships　between　the　coefficient　of　performance　(COP)　and　exergy　efficiency　are　balanced　through　the　application　of　the　technique　for　order　preference　by　similarity　to　ideal　solution　(TOPSIS).　The　results　show　that　all　the　indexes　of　SGHP　connected　to　an　open　heat　pump　(SGHPO)　with　different　application　scenarios　are　higher　than　those　of　SGHP　connected　to　a　flash　tank　(SGHPF).　At　the　most　unfavorable　operating　condition　of　the　system,　the　COP　minimum　value　is　1.31　and　the　exergy　efficiency　minimum　value　is　20.42%.　These　results　indicate　that　replacing　the　coal-fired　boiler　with　SGHP　is　feasible　and　the　work　could　provide　theoretical　guidance　for　optimal　design　and　equipment　manufacture.　©　The　Author(s)　2024.