As part of the Mittelstand-Digital initiative, the partners of the Mittelstand-Digital-Zentren Augsburg and Chemnitz developed a generic model for the introduction of a sustainable energy management system. The result is a transparent system for reporting greenhouse gas emissions (GHG emissions) that enables companies to precisely determine the carbon footprint of their products and implement targeted reduction measures. In addition, methods were developed to identify and utilize flexibilities in the energy supply, which opens up new potential for cost reductions and increased energy efficiency.
The project has already been presented at 34 trade fairs, conferences and workshops to inform the public and experts about the developments. The project results are currently being put into practice: Two companies are currently implementing an energy management system (EMS).
Advanced technologies and methods for energy use
A key success of EILE was the production of ten innovative measuring cases specially designed for non-invasive energy monitoring. These cases enable precise and flexible recording of energy-relevant data. Three measuring cases - known as PowerScopes - are currently installed at companies in the Magdeburg area and three more in the Munich area.
Another highlight of the project is the development of an action guide, which provides practical instructions for creating measurement concepts and introducing an energy monitoring and management system. The topics covered include:
- Energy performance indicators, supported by an Excel-based calculation tool,
- CO₂ balancing,
- forecasting of non-flexible loads, PV generation and optimization strategies based on this,
- possible applications for the data collected, such as simulations, variant calculations and load shifting strategies.
This provides companies with clear step-by-step instructions for implementation. In addition, detailed guidelines provide practical assistance for efficiency and flexibility measures. Webinars provide background knowledge and promote the broad application of the energy management system.
A significant step towards a sustainable energy future
The EILE future project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) and coordinated by fortiss. The institute assumed responsibility for software integration and development, used collected measurement data to create detailed consumption models and transferred these to a simulation environment. Other project partners such as Fraunhofer IGCV, Fraunhofer IIS, IBO GmbH, IMACS GmbH and tti Magdeburg GmbH contributed significantly to the success of the project.
The results make a significant contribution to sustainable energy use in Germany and provide SMEs with a sound basis for successfully meeting the challenges of rising energy prices and increasing requirements for CO₂ reduction. EILE strengthens the competitiveness of companies and represents a significant step towards a more sustainable future.
Companies that are interested in the project results in greater depth and would like to transfer them to their own processes will find suitable support services and technical expertise at fortiss.
