FlexPower: Accelerating industrial electrification for a CO2-neutral future

Industrial electrification is key to achieving the Netherlands’ goal of reducing CO₂ emissions by 60% by 2030 and becoming climate-neutral by 2050. The FlexPower project focuses on flexible and efficient electrification solutions to empower the industry, energy producers, and grid operators to work together towards a sustainable future.

In short:

Accelerating flexible and efficient industrial electrification
Aligning industrial demand and renewable energy supply
Tackling grid and energy system challenges

The challenge

The energy transition requires industry to shift from fossil fuels to renewable electricity. However, this comes with significant challenges:

Grid congestion: The rapid growth of both electricity demand and renewable energy generation places enormous strain on electricity grids, creating bottlenecks that hinder industrial electrification.
Energy price volatility: Unpredictable energy markets make it difficult for industries to plan cost-effective electrification strategies.
Complexity of flexibility: To reduce grid congestion and support grid stability, industries need efficient and flexible energy solutions, which require a complex combination and integration of various innovative technologies.

FlexPower addresses these challenges by providing actionable insights, developing innovative solutions, and fostering collaboration across the energy value chain.

Project objectives

FlexPower sets out to achieve four key objectives through real-world industrial cases that will serve as the foundation for scenario development and solution testing:

Scenario development: Elaborate realistic future energy system scenarios including energy and network price dynamics, and regulatory frameworks. The scenarios will incorporate the evolution of financial incentives from markets such as aFRR and mFRR.
Case-specific solutions: Design electrification and energy storage solutions for the real industrial cases, based on the possible energy system scenarios, and assess the options for flexible operation.
Demand-side flexibility: Develop strategies that enable industries to act as flexible energy consumers based on insights from case studies, supporting grid stability and renewable integration.
Systemic solutions: Leverage findings from industrial cases to create broader insights that connect industrial demand, renewable power generation, and grid operators into efficient, cooperative energy value chains. This includes defining business models, assessing stakeholder risks, and ensuring regulatory alignment.

The industrial cases

The FlexPower project is built around real-world industrial cases, which provide critical insights and practical solutions for flexible electrification.

Teijin Aramid

The Teijin Aramid case focuses on electrifying the heat supply to a distillation column. The project explores high-temperature storage solutions to optimize heat storage efficiency and operational flexibility, balancing production rates with energy prices and grid tariffs.

Cosun Sensus

Cosun’s case examines the electrification of evaporation and spray drying processes at different temperature levels. The project aims to identify the optimal combination of e-boilers, heat pumps, and heat buffers to maximize flexibility and business case viability.

Sappi

Sappi aims to assess the viability of flexible electrification technologies for paper drying processes, including steam-producing heat pumps, e-boilers, and steam accumulators. The project will explore the optimal integration of these technologies focusing on flexibility performance, energy efficiency, and potential revenue from balancing services.

Key results

FlexPower delivers tangible outcomes, with the industrial cases forming the backbone of all results:

Scenarios and analysis: Realistic energy system scenarios tailored to the requirements for the proper development and economic assessment of innovative electrified processes.
Electrification solutions: Practical, case-driven solutions for flexible electrification.
Flexibility strategies: Optimized models based on industrial cases to enable demand-side flexibility, with clear implementation pathways.
System-level innovations: Scalable frameworks and tools derived from case studies, supporting a seamless transition to flexible energy value chains.

Collaboration and stakeholders

FlexPower is a collaborative effort led by ISPT, with contributions from industry leaders, grid operators, technology providers, and research institutions. Join us in shaping a CO₂-neutral and circular industry. Explore the future of industrial electrification with FlexPower. For more information or collaboration opportunities, please contact Annita Westenbroek or Antonie de Haas.