20.500.12556/DKUM-91370 Energy flexibility in aluminium smelting a long-term feasibility study based on the prospects of electricity load and photovoltaic production This paper investigates the economic feasibility of utilising energy flexibility in aluminium production as a viable solution to leverage electricity surpluses arising from the increasing number of photovoltaic (PV) system installations. Future trends suggest that the generation capacity of PV systems will soon surpass consumption, leading to significant electricity surpluses, particularly during the summer. This surplus electricity, which is anticipated to be available at low prices, offers a unique opportunity to evaluate different investment and utilisation scenarios for aluminium production while simultaneously decreasing its environmental impact. The results demonstrate that, despite their high initial investment cost, large-scale PV power plants can potentially deliver maximum economic gains over a ten-year period. Conversely, the direct utilisation of surpluses without substantial investment can yield savings of up to EUR 17 million within the same time frame for Slovenia’s case with an aluminium smelter, which has a maximum power usage of 60 MW. The findings of this study have significant implications in terms of shaping future energy strategies and policies, emphasizing the value of integrating renewable energy sources and industrial processes for enhanced economic and environmental outcomes. energy flexibility aluminium smelting renewable energy virtual battery solar production aluminij ponovna raba anergije virtualne baterije sončna energija true false true MDPI Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci © 2024 by the authors Članek v reviji 2024-12-17 09:05:20 2024-12-17 09:05:20 2026-01-16 03:12:16 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2024 0 0 20 str. iss. 22, [article no.] 10108 Vol. 14 Nov. 2024 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 2024-08-29 2024-10-24 2024-11-05 621.31 214611715 10.3390/app142210108 2076-3417 applsci-14-10108.pdf applsci-14-10108.pdf 1 27607E5D759448C09A698C75F9B34462 4127231065d4826d915190e31f41a83232dd20db161cdf0df2ebb94ad5484d72 77b54340-f1dd-11f0-9ca2-00155d580e02 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=202026 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/14/22/10108 0 7d803f58-f1dd-11f0-9ca2-00155d580e02 https://dk.um.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=202027 Fakulteta za elektrotehniko, računalništvo in informatiko 0 0 0