The efficient design and operational management of storage systems is gaining in importance 

The energy consumption of a factory is generally much higher than necessary. A new software program being developed at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (IWU) in Chemnitz aims to change that. It will take into account all energy-saving technologies in the company and optimize their interaction. It will significantly reduce energy costs.

Up to now, the energy supply of a factory has usually been determined using spreadsheets, which are rounded off generously to avoid bottlenecks in case of doubt. In addition, numerous electric drives within the production line are repeatedly accelerated or braked in the course of the production process. This not only leads to network fluctuations with considerable power peaks. In the long run, it also damages the electrical equipment.

Marian Süße from the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology, Chemnitz, will present the ESIP (Energy Storage in Production) project for Let's Talk Science. He will explain for which machines and systems the software will be applicable from 2025 and summarise its functions. For example, it will be possible to include hybrid storage systems and locally generated renewable energy in the optimisation of energy management.