BIRN can throttle down power according to the needs of the electricity market
The BIRN foundry is included as a good example in a new EU initiative on electrification from Danish Industry. Using a technological solution, BIRN can adjust the power consumption in the foundry where iron is remelted when the electricity grid is loaded. In this way, power can be drawn on at the company when extra power is needed in the rest of the grid, without affecting the company's own production. According to both Danish Industry and the CIP Foundation, more flexible electricity consumption is crucial for both increased electrification of industry and improved European competitiveness.
The consumption of electricity is increasing throughout society and one of the ways to meet the increased demand is by regulating the consumption of the power sent out to consumers such as industrial companies.
With an annual power consumption of almost 94,000 MWh, equivalent to the annual power consumption of more than 23,000 households, even small adjustments in power consumption at the BIRN iron foundry can make a big difference on the common electricity market. Among other things, the foundry in Holstebro uses electricity for its melting processes when producing cast iron. Here the temperatures reach around 1,500 degrees - a very energy-intensive process, but also a process that holds great potential for reducing the impact of the power coming out of the sockets at the foundry.
The principle of consumption flexibility and the experiences from BIRN are included as one of a total of 12 recommendations in a brand-new EU proposal on European electrification from DI Energy, which has been launched in connection with Denmark's upcoming EU presidency. The proposal will help kick-start the conversation in the EU on how to ensure sufficient energy and promote economic growth based on strong competitiveness and high green ambitions. Electrification is a key driver here.
- We want to support the stability of the electricity grid, so it makes perfect sense to contribute with our experience in terms of reducing our power output during periods when it has no impact on our production. At the same time, sustainability is a crucial competitive parameter for us in an industrially heavy industry, which is why we are working hard to reduce our CO2 emissions and increase the use of green power in our production, says Emil Husted Brodersen, Group Sustainability Manager at BIRN Group, who has just presented BIRN's case in Brussels as part of DI's initiative on electrification of European industry.
In addition to increased electricity consumption, green energy sources such as solar and wind continue to increase in the shared electricity supply. However, the transition from fossil fuels also means that electricity production is becoming more unpredictable. Therefore, in the project "A greener and more flexible electricity consumption", the CIP Foundation is looking at how electricity consumption can be made flexible and what economic and climate benefits can be reaped. The experiences from BIRN are also included in this project as a good example of how to approach the electrification of industry in an economic and more sustainable way.
- With this project, we want to raise the level of knowledge and focus attention on the solutions that already work. BIRN's experience shows very clearly how electrification in industry is not only technically feasible, but that there are also economic benefits to incorporating flexibility. And the importance of flexible electrification can hardly be overestimated if we are to reach our climate goals, says Charlotte B. Jepsen, Managing Partner at the CIP Foundation.
Electricity regulation corresponds to the annual electricity consumption of 1,500 households
The actual electricity regulation at BIRN takes place by reducing the power output of the electricity sent to the foundry at times when it does not interfere with the actual production. With the high temperatures in the casting processes, it is possible to reduce the power output briefly, as the reheat ensures a stable temperature in the melting furnaces.
- The electricity regulation in the foundry is automatically activated when the need for extra power on the grid is greatest. The individual adjustments typically last just 12-30 minutes at a time on average. In none of the cases the downward adjustment of electricity consumption has affected production. We can always deactivate the system manually in an extreme emergency, but so far this has not been necessary, explains Emil Husted Brodersen.
Even the relatively few regulations that have been activated at BIRN so far have made a positive contribution to the overall energy balance. The amount of power that has been reserved at BIRN in connection with electricity regulation corresponds to the annual consumption of around 1,500 households.
Switching from natural gas and other fossil fuels in industry is typically associated with high investment costs. According to the CIP Foundation, this has contributed to many Danish industrial companies hesitating to electrify their production so far. But at BIRN, investing in an electric boiler for heating to replace a gas-fired central heating plant - when the power for the electric boiler is also used flexibly - can be good business. In this way, the payback period for a new electric boiler can be reduced from up to 12 years to just under four years.
- The experience from BIRN challenges the common perception that only low temperature processes can be electrified. BIRN's melting furnaces are both electrified and flexible and thus serve as a good example of how future industry can be included in the balancing of the electricity system while strengthening competitiveness, explains Charlotte B. Jepsen from the CIP Foundation.
Contact us for more information:
- Emil Husted Brodersen, Group Sustainability Manager, BIRN Group, mobile: +45 61 63 16 33 and e-mail: ehb@birn.dk
- Press service: Trine Kristensen, mobile 2980 4021 and e-mail: trine@publicity.dk