Bofit Optimisation And Mathematical Modeling Enable Efficient Energy Supply In The Chempark

As the operator of CHEMPARK’s three sites in North Rhine-Westphalia, CURRENTA has primary responsibility for providing the production companies there with an adequate and affordable supply of process steam
and electricity. CURRENTA uses a wide portfolio of generation technologies including conventional cogeneration, modern CCGT and Power-to-Heat plants. It also makes use of the sites’ waste heat.
CURRENTA uses Volue’s intelligent BoFiT software to ensure that the flexibility of the
entire generation portfolio – especially the cogeneration plants – is optimally deployed.
BoFiT allows the power plants to respond to variable production demand and in
particular to fluctuating energy market prices efficiently and on a daily basis.

BoFiT optimisation harnesses cogeneration plant flexibility

The power plants operated by CURRENTA work with a mix of electricity, steam, heat and other media such as cold and compressed air. While this makes for complex plant operating parameters, it also creates opportunities for flexible management. The parameters for managing deployment of the flexibility available throughout the entire
CHEMPARK are calculated using mathematical optimisation models developed by CURRENTA in the BoFiT system. In addition to the cogeneration plants, the daily optimiations also cover Power-to-Heat plants and the waste heat from the sites’ production companies.

Simulating gas shortages

These models have proven especially valuable in recent times, when the threat of gas shortages has loomed large. Since summer 2022, weekly gas shortage simulations have modeled how the CHEMPARK could efficiently implement potential gas curtailment measures. The CHEMPARK companies have been providing their steam demand forecasts via a digital platform so that the models can calculate the necessary energy input for the power plants. This close cooperation has helped the companies to make appropriate provisions for gas shortage scenarios.

Intraday trading and optimised marketing

Another focus is on engaging in short-term, intraday trading that can take place up to five minutes before delivery. CURRENTA is already trading on the intraday market at the Dormagen site. Self-configured trading algorithms automatically provide the results of the continuous intraday power plant dispatch planning to the EPEX SPOT intraday market via a direct interface.

The long-term perspective:impacts of investments to reduce CO2 emissions

The optimisation models’ uses are by no means confined to short-term issues. They can also be employed to estimate the impacts of future investments, for example investments in additional Power-to-Heat plants to reduce the CO₂ emissions associated with steam production. This will be key to meeting the CHEMPARK’s overall emission reduction targets over the coming years.

Supplying energy sustainably and efficiently

“Mathematical optimisation models provide CURRENTA with another valuable tool for supplying energy sustainably and efficiently to the CHEMPARK”, says CURRENTA Business Line Head Energy Solutions, Dr. Ulrich Lohmann. “Our close cooperation with the CHEMPARK companies and our ongoing use of innovative technologies allow us to respond effectively to the challenges of a constantly shifting energy landscape.”