Optimization of the energy supply in the plastics industry to reduce the primary energy demand

The plastic processing industry mainly uses electric power for their facilities. To obtain flexibility in using machines from many different energy sources such as combined heat and power plant (CHP), heat by the burning of natural gas, or electrical grid, the electrical heating method is changed to thermal oil heating in many production machines. The study shows the energy saving potential for a typical manufacturing company located in three different locations in Germany, Canada and the USA. Based on the results of the study, the end energy demand increases due to thermal losses. Besides the primary energy demand can be reduced up to 34 percent through a flexible use of different energy sources. Furthermore, a high degree of flexibility can be achieved.