Elforsk Report 06:11 Studie av effektreduktioner hos mellanstora kunder

This report analyses the conditions for load reduction measures by medium-sized electricity customers. Approximately 40 companies (ironworks and steelworks, foundries, in the chemical industry, the food industry, the heat treatment industry and real estate management) have been interviewed. Three areas are studied in more detail: warehouses for frozen products, real estate management companies operating shopping centers, and companies with over-capacity.

The total potential for load reductions by the studied categories of electricity customers was estimated to lie between 300 and 340 MW, of which more than 200 MW were achieved by real estate management. The large potential of real estate management can be explained by the low cost of the load reduction measures. By reprogramming control systems, it is easy to postpone the start-up of ventilation systems by one and up to three hours. In warehouses for frozen products, load reductions can be achieved by reprogramming the control regulating system. The total load reduction potential from frozen products warehouses is about 20 MW.

The load reduction potential from industrial companies is estimated to lie between 90 to 130 MW, partly depending on the state of the market, as a large part of the identified load reductions take advantage of over-capacity utilization. Load reductions are achieved by making short stops or by postponing the start of a process with one or two hours. Taking advantage of over-capacity to reduce load is mainly done by ironworks and steelworks, and to a lesser degree, the chemical and food industries.

The identified load reductions are limited to using free capacity given by the price model used in this study. The model used does not give a reliable economical incentive for load reductions leading to high costs, such as decreasing production, investments or shifting working tasks outside ordinary working hours.

The price model implies that electricity prices will be in the interval 3-10 SEK per kWh (0,32-4,23 EUR/kWh) during 40 hours per year. The benefit of load reduction will be uncertain with this model, as it is reliant on how often there will be peak prices. This uncertainty makes companies unwilling to change work routines, which are often needed when carrying out load reductions.