The energy market has been characterised by strong turbulence in recent years. Although the situation has calmed down, it has become clear that in the long term there is no way for companies to avoid switching their energy supply to renewable sources and substantially reducing their overall energy consumption. In addition to legal requirements and corporate responsibility with regard to sustainability, costs are still the decisive argument when it comes to switching production processes and implementing innovative technologies. Economic considerations play a central role in the selection of suitable solutions. Thermal energy storage systems such as the ThermalBattery™ from ENERGYNEST help companies to significantly reduce their energy consumption and therefore their energy costs.
Using renewable energies
In order to be able to obtain energy at competitive prices in the future, there is no alternative to switching to renewables in the long term – after all, green electricity will become increasingly cheaper in the long term and the cost of fossil fuels will rise. The volatility and resulting uncertainties in the security of supply are one of the main arguments in favour of a complete switch to green energy. The combination with thermal energy storage systems solves precisely this problem. Green electricity from wind or solar energy can be stored during production peaks and released as heat or process steam when required. This makes it possible, for example, to continue production processes supplied with solar energy during the night.
Cost savings through peak load reduction and load shifting
Another way to reduce energy costs through the use of thermal energy storage is through peak shaving, i.e. the reduction of peak loads. If industrial companies reduce their peak loads so as not to exceed the capacities of the electricity grid, they can benefit from lower grid utilisation fees. These are generally dependent on the highest power peak over the entire year. In addition to peak shaving, companies often use load shifting to shift energy consumption from times of high demand to times of low demand. In this way, industrial consumers benefit from more favourable energy prices. Energy storage systems are an ideal complement to both methods, as they can balance energy consumption throughout the day by storing energy and releasing it at different times when required. This reduces the need to buy expensive energy during peak load times, which can lead to significant cost savings.
Increasing energy efficiency
The use of thermal energy storage systems such as the ThermalBattery™ makes it possible to significantly increase the energy efficiency of production facilities. The ability to store and reuse waste heat or excess process steam generated during industrial processes avoids energy losses. This reduces the need for additional energy supply, which in turn lowers energy costs.
Saving CO2 compensation costs
Another factor that should not be neglected – especially for companies in energy-intensive sectors – is the increasing financial burden caused by the cost of CO2 certificates and CO2 taxes. By using thermal energy storage systems, these companies can significantly reduce their energy consumption and thus their CO2 emissions, which can considerably reduce potential compensation payments as part of emissions trading.
ThermalBattery™ as a long-term investment
How quickly companies can amortise their investment in a thermal energy storage system depends on the circumstances of the individual project and the choice of technology used for heat storage. With a service life of over 30 years and extremely low operating costs, the ThermalBattery™ offers an attractive investment in the competitiveness of your own energy supply. Thanks to its innovative design and the materials used, such as steel and concrete, the ThermalBattery™ shows no loss of performance during operation and can withstand tens of thousands of load cycles.
