Intersections and Contrasts between Energy Efficiency and Flexibility in Production Machinery Energy - An Analysis Regarding Energy Optimisation

Energy efficiency is a well-known and often implemented energy-related activity with a variety of different characteristics and fields of application. Energy efficient solutions, especially for pneumatic and electric intensive processes, are usually applied to minimise the electric and pneumatic energy consumption in the field of production. Especially in complex machinery it must be avoided that the energy consumption influences the productivity or quality of the product. On the other hand, due to volatile energy supply from renewable sources, there is a growing awareness of energy flexibility, which is mainly implemented on energy-intensive processes such as metal production, foundries, chemical processes and paper industry. An increase of the energy flexibility potential of machines often influences the energy efficiency. In other cases, energy efficiency and energy flexibility actions can be conducted without an interaction. This paper compares the definition and characteristics of energy efficiency as well as energy flexibility actions. An application of energy flexibility as well as efficiency actions can lead to optimised energy consumption behaviour of production machinery.