Why it pays to flexibilize your company's electricity consumption

What does “flexibilization of electricity consumption” mean?

Flexibilization of electricity consumption refers to the adjustment of energy consumption to external factors such as electricity prices, grid capacities or the availability of renewable energy. Instead of consuming electricity continuously and independently of external conditions, energy use is controlled in a targeted manner. Industrial companies can, for example, shift energy-intensive processes to times of low electricity prices or use surplus renewable energy efficiently.

Why it is becoming increasingly important to flexibilize electricity consumption

The need to flexibilize electricity consumption is increasing for several reasons:

• Fluctuating energy prices: Due to the increasing integration of renewable energies, electricity costs vary more than ever before. Companies that operate flexibly benefit from low prices (Fraunhofer ISE, 2023).
• Grid stability: Adapted load management relieves the power grid and reduces the risk of overloads such as the one in Oranienburg in 2024.
• Sustainability: Companies that adapt their electricity consumption to phases of high renewable energy production are making an important contribution to the energy transition and climate protection.
• Regulations and subsidies: Government requirements and financial incentives for load shifting or demand response programs make energy flexibility economically attractive.

Flexibilization potential in your company

The options for flexibilizing electricity consumption depend on the sector and production processes. Many people assume that flexibilizing electricity consumption can only be achieved through storage solutions. However, there are various controllable systems that enable energy flexibility:

• Cold & heat: Chillers, heat pumps, combined heat and power plants (CHP) and electric heat generators offer great potential for load shifting. They can be operated flexibly in order to use electricity when it is particularly cheap or is available from renewable sources. Limit parameters are always observed so that product quality remains unaffected.
• Other systems: In many cases, pumps, tanks or storage facilities can be controlled in such a way that they use energy during periods of high availability without affecting operations.
• PV system or wind turbine: Companies with their own photovoltaic or wind power plants can align their electricity consumption with production peaks of renewable energies and thus reduce grid electricity costs.
• Charging infrastructure: Electric industrial trucks or e-trucks can be charged intelligently by drawing power preferably when grid utilization is low or electricity is particularly cheap.
• Storage systems: Battery storage or thermal storage systems help to store cheaply generated or purchased electricity and use it at a later stage. In this way, load peaks can be avoided and grid charges can be reduced.

By combining these measures, industrial companies can reduce their energy costs, support grid stability and operate more sustainably.

How to implement the flexibilization of your electricity consumption

The easiest way to implement the flexibilization of electricity consumption is through an intelligent energy management system such as flexOn. The procedure is as follows:

1. Analysis of energy consumption: During the initial consultation, we identify your company's biggest consumers and check which processes can be designed flexibly. In addition, we will discuss your optimization goals.
2. Integration of flexOn: Our flexOn energy management system uses AI-based data analysis and forecasts. On this basis,  calculates intelligent timetables for your consumers and c them automatically. As a result, you consume electricity exactly when it is green and cheap.
3. Optimization through market incentives: Use variable electricity tariffs or participate in flexibility markets to generate further income.
4. Use of energy storage: If all of your potential has already been exhausted, you can invest in additional energy storage systems. Use our storage simulation to find out whether the investment is worthwhile.

What you save by flexibilizing your electricity consumption

The benefits of flexible use of energy are manifold:

• Cost reduction: Companies can reduce their energy costs by up to 20%.
• Competitive advantage: Lower energy costs improve competitiveness.
• Sustainability: By maximizing the use of renewable energy, you can reduce your CO₂ emissions by up to 30% and thus improve your balance sheet.
• Income through grid stabilization: Companies that reduce their loads during high-load periods can significantly reduce their network charges. This is also shown by the example of our customer Peter Bade, whose grid charges have been reduced by 30% through flexibilization.

Flexibilizing electricity consumption is a decisive step for industrial companies to work more economically and sustainably. Investing in smart solutions at an early stage secures long-term advantages in an increasingly dynamic energy market.