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

Innovations for the energy transition

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.

Fluctuating electricity supply - flexible demand

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.

The energy-flexible factory in the »SynErgie« project
© NABU: Model Region Augsburg, Kopernikus Project SynErgie
The energy-flexible factory in the »SynErgie« project

Energy-flexible model region Augsburg

In the Augsburg model region, partners from industry and the energy sector are actively involved and investigating how the future energy network can be designed with energy-flexible factories. Small and medium-sized companies in the region can also get involved in this and thus experience their potential.

Together with the Institute for Machine Tools and Industrial Management (iwb) at the Technical University of Munich, Fraunhofer IGCV is initially conducting an analysis. This focuses on the company's expectations and takes a closer look at the current energy supply status. An on-site analysis follows this: the researchers look at the production conditions and determine the company's individual requirements in personal interviews. Energy flexibility experts then evaluate the data, and the results are presented to the company in a presentation, including specific recommendations for action.

Feel free to contact us for a no-obligation consultation: info@igcv.fraunhofer.de

Sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research
© Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research

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