Load-shifting potential at SMEs manufacturing sites: A methodology and case study

Load balancing is an important aspect of today's power grids and will increase even further with the energy systems being changed towards a system based on renewable energy. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) may provide potential to engage in balancing activities of local energy systems. Therefore, the question arises of whether the load-shifting potential in manufacturing SMEs is high enough to be of use for balancing purposes. This paper proposes a methodology for determining the load-shifting potential of small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies based on technical, organizational, and economic criteria. The methodology was tested and refined in a medium-sized manufacturing company specializing in metal processing in Germany. The amount of daily shiftable energy was determined in the case company based on quantitative data. Energy consumption data of three additional companies were used to validate the methodology and to define the load-shifting potential of each company. Technical load-shifting potential varies among the investigated SMEs. Potentials of up to 848 kWh per day were identified in one case, while in other cases, potentials were close to 35 kWh. The type of factory (i.e., type of machines, production strategies) and flexibility of production schedule were identified as the main factors causing such variance.