Transformation of the energy system: Industrial consumers can use electricity more flexibly
Load reduction of up to 6 gigawatts possible – paper industry able to deliver over 40 percent
![wind energy plants and conventional power plant](https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/styles/800w400h/public/medien/376/bilder/kraftwerk_kgdad_fotolia_43915255_m_2.jpg?itok=2XN_NSIp&c=0947a8b140f441c410db5bafa259e076)
Source: kgdad / Fotolia.com
Electric steelworks, chlorine electrolysis plants and other industrial large-scale consumers could become much more flexible in their electricity consumption and thereby help in the effort to integrate renewables in the power grid. These are the findings of a study done on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA). “More flexible power demand – known as load management – is key to the transformation of Germany’s energy system (Energiewende). In future we must concentrate peak demand for electricity during the times when wind or solar energy are supplying power. We would then need less installed capacity in conventional power plants", said UBA President Maria Krautzberger. The nine industrial sectors examined in the study show a technical potential to reduce demand by about 6 gigawatts (GW), or about 7% of German annual peak load.