Innovation in industrial energy efficiency controlling and its contribution towards the transition of the energy sector

Panel: 3. Energy management: the nuts and bolts

Author:
Arne Grein, ÖKOTEC Energiemanagement GmbH, Germany

Abstract

Even though electricity consumption proved to be stable over the last two decades, energy efficiency has constantly improved the specific electricity demand in relation to the real growth of production value in the German industry sector. European policy instruments as the energy efficiency directive (2012/27/EU) and the energy services directive (2006/32/EC) pressure national governments to implement a variety of instruments to foster energy efficiency. National policies towards the transition of the energy sector go a step beyond and aim the reduction of gross electricity consumption of 25 % and a fraction of renewable electricity generation of 80 % until 2050. Industrial companies face an enormous challenge to handle targets in production increase and continuous electricity reduction. Irregular energy saving projects will not achieve these long-term goals. Transparent and real-time monitoring, analysis and control of production and supply processes together with ICT and digital metering infrastructure over all significant facilities are inevitable for continuous efficiency improvements in the future. The evaluation of processes and facilities is based on high-resolution dynamic performance indicators and innovative benchmark methods. Methods and best-practice examples will be discussed and evalueted. They support a strategic and structured efficiency controlling and verify decision making in energy saving measures. Performance evaluation can additionally be used to predict energy consumption and the availability of flexible load for market integration and provide standardized interfaces with common market platforms. Energy efficiency management enhances the participation of industrial consumers to energy trading and supply management and contributes to the integration of renewable power generation. ÖKOTEC Energiemanagement GmbH as one of the founders of DENEFF is an important actor to develop a wide range of services along innovative industrial energy management.