We have carried out an energy audit of our site in Leipzig and identified the biggest energy consumers. We conducted this analysis in collaboration with the engineering firm GICON, with funding from the Sächsische Aufbaubank and co-financing from the EU. On this basis, we are now developing a transformation plan for our site.

The efficient use of energy is a key factor in determining how sustainably and competitively we manufacture. We now have a robust basis for this at our Leipzig site: an energy analysis that maps energy flows in the form of steam and electricity across all buildings and plant.

This is a challenging task. We have around 300 drives and 50 major pieces of plant in operation: reactors, spray towers, extractors and mixing tanks, as well as refrigeration and heating systems and cleaning systems. We produce in batches, switch between products and clean the plant in between. As a result, energy demand fluctuates constantly.

The analysis brings together findings from energy monitoring, on-site inspections and targeted measurements of electricity, steam and heat. This combines numerous individual data points to form a coherent picture of energy usage.

This identifies the initial areas for improving efficiency. The largest consumers include ventilation, lighting, hot water production and building heating. These shape the background energy requirements of the operation and are independent of how much is currently being produced.

In the next step, a transformation concept is developed based on this analysis. It examines how consumption can be reduced in a targeted manner and which energy supply will best suit the site in future.

A detailed look at today thus informs the decisions for tomorrow. The better we understand our energy use, the more precisely we can manage it.

Funded under the Free State of Saxony’s Energy and Climate Funding Guidelines (FRL EuK/2023).