Autor: Tallal Javied

In electric energy systems based on renewable generation plants supply and demand often do not occur in the same time. Consequently energy flexibilization is gaining importance in industrial environments, whereby decentralized automation offers opportunities. Compressed-air systems on industrial plants supply manufacturing equipment with compressed air, nitrogen and other technical gases, which partly can be obtained from air by deposition processes. Those systems consist of air compressors, gas separators, reservoirs and lines. With suitable dimensioning and by equipping with automation technology those product-service systems can be used for energy flexibilization purpose.

Energy management systems provide a framework for the transparent display of energy consumptions, aiming for an increase of energy efficiency. At the same time, a certified energy management system is condition for the reimbursement of electricity taxes and the exemption of the EEG (Renewables Energy ACT) apportionment. Even though energy management systems lead evidently to a reduction of energy consumptions, only little companies have implemented such a system. The study presented in this paper gives an insight into the status of the cost factor energy and respective management systems in German SMEs (manufacturing industry). Moreover, the main pillars of energy management systems and their benefits are outlined.