The importance of power balancing, as well as reducing water consumption and wastewater

Economic and environmental benefits

In today's industrial and commercial buildings, it's crucial to focus on sustainable solutions that reduce both resource consumption and operating costs.

Three key areas that are often overlooked where measures can provide major benefits are the reduction of power smoothing, water consumption and wastewater management. By implementing smart solutions in these areas, companies can achieve significant financial savings while contributing to reduced environmental impacts.

Power smoothing

High power peaks as a result of machines starting up in the morning can lead to large costs associated with power management tariffs. To address this problem, power smoothing can be introduced using battery packs. The batteries can be recharged at night or with the help of photovoltaic systems or similar, and used to cover power peaks during the day. Measures such as this reduce both the immediate power peaks and the long-term costs, especially as power feed-in tariffs are expected to rise in the future. By reducing peak demand, businesses can save significant amounts of money, especially during the winter months when demand tariffs are higher.

Power equalization with batteries reduces the load on the power grid, as well as increasing flexibility in the event of possible future integration with renewable energy sources such as photovoltaic systems.

Reduction of water consumption

Water consumption in buildings with intensive manufacturing operations can be significant, especially if washing and drying processes are involved. During drying, much of the water disappears in the form of steam, leading to a large unnecessary loss instead of recovering the water for other processes. Another measure is to capture and reuse rainwater. Establishing a rainwater management system, where water from the roof is collected in underground tanks and treated for internal use, can drastically reduce the consumption of municipal water. For example, such a system, based on annual rainfall and recovery factor, could significantly reduce the building's dependence on municipal water supply.

Solutions like this also help to reduce the strain on local water supply networks, while also reducing the company's costs for water consumption. Rainwater can be used in a variety of processes where drinking water is not required, reducing pressure on both resources and finances.

Wastewater management and recycling

In addition to reducing water consumption, it's important to look at effective wastewater management. Many companies pay for wastewater based on their total water consumption, which can be misleading if much of the water evaporates during production processes. By recovering water that disappears in the form of steam and condensation, the amount of wastewater returning to the municipal sewage system can be significantly reduced. This can be done by installing dedicated wastewater counters that provide a more accurate calculation of the amount of wastewater, reducing the costs associated with wastewater. A percolation reservoir could also make a positive contribution in relation to torrential rain and flood protection.

Efficient wastewater management contributes to sustainability by reducing the consumption of fresh water and reducing the amount of water that needs to be treated in municipal treatment plants. It also reduces the amount of waste returned to the environment, making the process both more environmentally friendly and economically sustainable.

In summary

Overall, reducing power balancing, water consumption and wastewater management are critical measures that businesses should consider to achieve both economic and environmental benefits. Implementing solutions such as battery storage for power smoothing, rainwater harvesting and more precise wastewater metering can reduce operating costs, make operations more sustainable, while meeting the requirements of future environmental standards. This not only provides financial benefits, but also makes the company more resilient and environmentally friendly in the face of future challenges related to resource consumption.

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At SustEvo, we have extensive experience in helping companies make good choices within energy and sustainability. Get in touch with us for a chat about how we can help ensure a successful implementation. Send us a message or contact us directly and we'll make sure you're on the right track!