Industrial Energy Cluster Optimization using Flexibility Aggregation

Individual industries can reduce their energy related costs by stipulating collaborative arrangements in the form of industrial energy communities. This paper analyses a case study of two manufacturing factories constituting an industrial energy community, presenting an approach to minimize grid electricity purchase through the aggregation of their flexibilities. The economic impact of deviating from the baseline production schedule is addressed, taking into account the additional costs of the flexibility offers. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear optimization model, considering the effects of a solar PV power plant and electricity purchase on the day-ahead market. The results of the study show that the proposed approach can significantly reduce the costs of electricity purchase for the factories while maintaining the same level of production, promoting RES penetration and energy security of the cluster.