According to an analysis from Energinet, by 2040 there will be a tripling of solar and wind production capacity in Denmark. Among other things, according to the analysis, West Jutland will become a powerhouse in the production of renewable energy, and this will place increased demands on the West Jutland electricity grid, which will be updated over the coming years.
Balance in the electricity grid will be an important factor in the transition to renewable energy, and here some of West Jutland's most energy-intensive companies can play an important role. This applies, among others, to the Birn iron foundry in Holstebro. The iron foundry is therefore currently testing the so-called Flex Platform, which has been developed by IBM and Andel Energi, the company states in a statement.
- Energi Danmark and IBM have presented us with an exciting and innovative energy solution, the Flex Platform, which makes it possible for us to adjust our electricity consumption in an intelligent way. We will test this solution through a pilot project, says Emil Brodersen, who is responsible for energy at Birn.
Does not affect production
With the Flex Platform, Birn will be able to reduce its energy consumption during periods when the electricity grid is under pressure. In this way, the iron foundry can help increase the security of electricity supply for neighbors and other companies in the Holstebro area by offsetting some of the lack of renewable energy in the electricity grid that Denmark's focus on green electricity may cause.
It will also relieve the pressure on the coal- and gas-fired reserve power plants that currently supply electricity in critical situations, and thus reduce CO2 emissions from the polluting reserve power plants that politicians have decided to phase out. With the help of the Flex Platform, the good climate news can even be realized without affecting Birn's production and quality.
- We would like to help improve the security of supply of green electricity to other companies and households, but it is also crucial for us that it does not affect our production capacity and quality, as we also have an obligation to our customers, says Emil Brodersen.
Platform must stand the test
The pilot project will initially clarify whether it is possible to reduce the electricity consumption of BIRN's melting furnaces without compromising production. Three of Birn's melting furnaces have been designated to participate in the project.
Here, it will be specifically tested whether the parties can accurately predict the furnaces' electricity consumption via artificial intelligence. The electricity market needs exact predictability in order to ensure balance in the grid. But it is not a simple exercise. The electricity consumption in Birn's furnaces varies depending on the materials to be melted, such as scrap, cast iron shavings, carbon and iron dust.
- Electricity consumption must be predictable 48 hours in advance - hour by hour. This requires predictability, and this specifically means that we must make an accurate projection of our order books, production plans, material composition and much more going forward, says Emil Brodersen.
Finally, a more technical test of the interaction between the hardware component that controls the temperature in the furnaces and the Flex Platform's software is underway.
- Consumption flexibility is "the missing link" in Denmark's journey towards more sustainable energy consumption, and BIRN has a great impact to move with, so it can really make a difference. Therefore, it is interesting to get energy-intensive companies on the Flex Platform, so that together we can balance future imbalances in the electricity grid, avoid power outages and reduce CO2 emissions. BIRN is now leading the way among foundries, and we are excited to see the results from the pilot project, which can hopefully inspire other industrial companies, says Trygve Skjøtskift, expert in digital energy innovation, IBM Denmark.
The Flex Platform is based on artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Today, a number of both private and public participants are connected to the platform.
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