Peak Shaving for Businesses with High Energy-Intensive Equipment
Peak shaving for businesses with high energy-intensive equipment involves reducing electricity consumption during periods of peak demand to avoid high demand charges and stabilize the power grid. Here’s how it differs and is implemented in such settings:
Key Differences and Implementation
- High Capacity Loads: Businesses with high energy-intensive equipment, such as manufacturing facilities or data centers, face higher demand charges due to their significant power consumption. Peak shaving helps manage these costs by utilizing energy storage systems, on-site generation, or reducing operational intensity during peak periods.
- Energy Storage and Generation: High-energy businesses often leverage battery energy storage systems (BESS) or on-site renewable energy sources (e.g., solar) to store energy during off-peak hours. This stored energy is used during peak hours to reduce reliance on the grid, thus shaving peaks and lowering costs.
- Flexibility in Operations: These businesses need to adapt operations to be more flexible. This can involve scheduling high-demand processes during off-peak times or using smart energy management systems to adjust energy use dynamically.
- Cost Savings: By reducing peak demand, businesses avoid costly demand charges, which are based on the highest power usage during a billing period. This leads to significant financial savings and improved budget predictability.
- Energy Security and Sustainability: Peak shaving also enhances energy security by reducing reliance on the grid during peak periods, which can be prone to outages. Additionally, it helps reduce the carbon footprint of operations by minimizing overall energy consumption during peak times.
Examples of High Energy-Intensive Equipment Suitable for Peak Shaving
- HVAC Systems: Air conditioning and heating systems in large commercial or industrial buildings consume substantial power and can be optimized using peak shaving strategies.
- Industrial Processes: Manufacturing operations or heavy machinery that can be scheduled or adjusted during peak periods are ideal candidates for peak shaving.
- Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: High-power EV charging infrastructure can benefit from peak shaving by using BESS to manage energy demand during peak charging times.
In summary, peak shaving for high energy-intensive businesses involves leveraging energy storage, adjusting operations, and using on-site generation to minimize peak demand and associated costs effectively.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-peak-shaving-differ-for-businesses-with-high-energy-intensive-equipment/
