Traditionally, at times of imminent shortage, extra electricity has been produced in polluting coal- and gas-fired power stations. This can be partially prevented by connecting controllable industrial processes, such as freezing facilities, to the capacity market. This limits the CO2 emissions from conventional power stations.
Demand management also plays an important role if there is a surplus of sustainable electricity at times when a lot of wind and solar power is generated. By using extra electricity at those times, sustainable energy is prevented from being lost. At present, wind turbines are even occasionally switched off at peak times.
Temperature ranges
The Lineage cold storage facility in Bergen op Zoom is used for the storage of foodstuffs. It is crucial for their preservation that the temperature remains within a minimum and maximum range. Accordingly, only capacity within that range is used for the emergency capacity market. This flexible capacity is equal to the capacity of 200 electric cars.
Extra revenue
Because of the limited investment costs, demand management is an attractive source of additional revenue for Lineage. Scholt Energy is currently investigating whether other Lineage cold storage facilities in the Netherlands and Belgium can also be connected to the emergency capacity market.
“Our pilot project in Bergen op Zoom, in partnership with Scholt Energy and Flexcity, is another successful proof point of Lineage’s commitment to sustainability globally, as we continue to live our purpose of transforming the food supply chain to eliminate waste and help feed the world. We’re proud to contribute to this important initiative and make a positive impact on the environment.”
Automated demand management
Scholt Energy handles the connection of the cold storage facility to the energy trading market. In cooperation with Flexcity, Lineage’s Bergen op Zoom facility is fully automatically adjustable. Whenever supply and demand in the electricity grid are in danger of becoming unbalanced, a control signal is sent by the national grid operator. A control box then causes the freezer to consume more electricity (in the event of an oversupply) or less (in the event of a shortage). Scholt Energy's systems monitor the available capacity and ultimately settle the cost.
"The connection of this cold storage facility fits perfectly with our ambition to control the decentralised energy grid with flexibility. The large-scale use of electrical processes and systems by industry is key to the success of the energy transition."
Reducing CO2 emissions and grid strain
With the increase in supply of wind and solar energy in particular, the influence of weather conditions on the energy supply is increasing and making the energy market increasingly challenging. Because where does our energy come from when there's only a light wind or when the sun isn't shining?
Producing additional electricity in gas- and coal-fired power stations is still often the solution, but not a structural one because of the CO2 emissions that go with it. By 2030, all coal-fired power stations in the Netherlands must be shut down, which means that controllable capacity will disappear. Using previously stored electricity is also a solution. However, the capacity of storage systems (batteries) is still far too small for this.
Part of the solution to this challenge lies precisely in the demand side of energy. After all, why should we produce additional electricity if we have the option of temporarily reducing demand? This avoids CO2 emissions and additional strain on the electricity grid. For this reason, demand management can play a crucial role in the energy transition. A multitude of industrial processes, such as a thermal salt bath, can also play a role.
"Flexcity is contributing to the energy transition by making the energy system intelligent. Connecting, managing and optimising the use of electrical appliances in real time using demand response. Through a transparent partnership with Flexcity, Lineage Logistics will be able to further improve the efficiency of its cold storage facility."
