SynErgie | Flexible power consumption as a smart solution for energy-intensive factories

A major challenge for the energy supply arises from the fluctuating electricity production of wind power and photovoltaic plants. A stable supply system must be guaranteed even when the plants generate little or no electricity at the time. One contribution to the solution lies in adapting factories' power consumption to the fluctuating power generation by wind and sun. This innovative concept is now being tested in the Augsburg model region as part of the »SynErgie« project. The results are encouraging. The concept of the energy-flexible factory also works in practice - and even reduces CO₂ emissions.

Germany's electricity needs are to be met entirely by renewable energies by 2050. However, there is a problem: wind and sun are not constant energy suppliers; the electricity supply fluctuates. As a result, there is often more electricity available than is actually needed, or too little. The Copernicus project »SynErgie« is therefore investigating how such fluctuations can be balanced out in the industry. For example, by flexibly adapting demand to the supply of electricity, so that industry can consciously increase or decrease its electricity consumption - without compromising the quality of its work.