TY - JOUR
T1 - Industrial demand-side flexibility
T2 - A key element of a just energy transition and industrial development
AU - Heffron, Raphael
AU - Körner, Marc Fabian
AU - Wagner, Jonathan
AU - Weibelzahl, Martin
AU - Fridgen, Gilbert
N1 - Funding-Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Project Group Business & Information Systems Engineering of the Fraunhofer FIT
FIM Research Center
University of Bayreuth
Luxembourg National Research Fund
PayPal
PY - 2020/7/1
Y1 - 2020/7/1
N2 - In many countries, industry is one of the largest consumers of electricity. Given the special importance of electricity for industry, a reliable electricity supply is a basic prerequisite for further industrial development and associated economic growth. As countries worldwide transition to a low-carbon economy (in particular, by the development of renewable energy sources), the increasing fluctuation in renewable energy production requires new flexibility options within the electricity system in order to guarantee security of supply. It is advanced in this paper that such a flexibility transition with an active participation of industry in general has unique potential: It will not only promote green industrial development, but also become an engine for inclusive industrial development and growth as well as delivering a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Given the high potential of industrial demand-side flexibility, a first monitoring approach for such a flexibility transition is illustrated, which bases on a flexibility index. Our flexibility index allows for an indication of mis-developments and supports an appropriate implementation of countermeasures together with relevant stakeholders. Hence, it holds various insights for both policy-makers and practice with respect to how industrial demand-side flexibility can ensure advances towards an inclusive, just, and sustainable industrial development.
AB - In many countries, industry is one of the largest consumers of electricity. Given the special importance of electricity for industry, a reliable electricity supply is a basic prerequisite for further industrial development and associated economic growth. As countries worldwide transition to a low-carbon economy (in particular, by the development of renewable energy sources), the increasing fluctuation in renewable energy production requires new flexibility options within the electricity system in order to guarantee security of supply. It is advanced in this paper that such a flexibility transition with an active participation of industry in general has unique potential: It will not only promote green industrial development, but also become an engine for inclusive industrial development and growth as well as delivering a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Given the high potential of industrial demand-side flexibility, a first monitoring approach for such a flexibility transition is illustrated, which bases on a flexibility index. Our flexibility index allows for an indication of mis-developments and supports an appropriate implementation of countermeasures together with relevant stakeholders. Hence, it holds various insights for both policy-makers and practice with respect to how industrial demand-side flexibility can ensure advances towards an inclusive, just, and sustainable industrial development.
KW - Energy transition
KW - Flexibility justice
KW - Inclusive growth
KW - Industrial demand-side flexibility
KW - Industrial development
KW - Just energy transition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85085315197&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115026
DO - 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115026
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85085315197
VL - 269
SP - 1
EP - 13
JO - Applied Energy
JF - Applied Energy
SN - 0306-2619
M1 - 115026
ER -