eLITHE project publishes report on enhancing energy flexibility in industry

The eLITHE project has produced a report on enhancing energy flexibility in energy-intensive industries, focusing on the ceramic sector and the role of electrification and digital technologies in achieving sustainability and cost-efficiency.

In a European energy market characterised by continuous fluctuations due to external factors, flexibility proves essential. Developing tools to respond promptly to these fluctuations will help ensure a sustainable and competitive future, in line with the goal of a greener Europe that is less dependent on fossil fuels.

On the path toward the EU's 2030 objectives and climate neutrality by 2050, energy-intensive industries must adopt proactive measures that promote environmental sustainability and help reduce operational costs. Among these, energy flexibility plays a key role as it enables industries to tackle the growing challenges posed by the integration of renewable energy sources.

These sources, such as wind and solar, are inherently intermittent and difficult to predict, making it necessary to dynamically adapt energy demand and supply in real time. Energy flexibility in systems is therefore defined as the ability to respond dynamically to grid variations, ensuring stability and efficiency.

For energy-intensive industries, this capability is key, as their production processes rely on a stable and predictable energy supply. The adoption of advanced technologies, such as storage systems, smart demand management, and digital solutions for optimal consumption, can be a decisive factor in ensuring long-term competitiveness and sustainability.

Against this backdrop, the eLITHE project addresses the challenges of flexibility, sustainability, and cost efficiency in energy-intensive industries, in particular the ceramic industry. The project's primary goal is to electrify thermal processes in the ceramic industry, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also identify and leverage the flexibility potential of this sector, starting with pilot sites in Spain, Greece and Germany.

To achieve this, eLITHE will develop three state-of-the-art furnaces at its demo sites, complemented by advanced digital technologies. These innovations will enable smarter energy management and advanced control strategies, aligning energy demand profiles with the most cost-effective and sustainable generation sources.

One year after its launch, eLITHE has begun establishing a methodological framework aimed at standardising and implementing energy flexibility audits. These are designed for companies and industrial processes looking to fully explore their flexibility potential and to benefit economically from demand response strategies, whether for internal optimisation or external market participation. The flexibility potential identified through these audits serves as a critical input for the decision support system being developed within eLITHE, guiding companies in electricity flexibility management.

Flexibility is not only based on demand but also on the ability to store energy efficiently. According to the findings of the eLITHE Report on assessment of processes flexibility, installing photovoltaic systems and battery energy storage solutions on an industrial scale improves self-consumption and optimises operational costs. However, in many industrial contexts, thermal energy storage systems prove to be more efficient and sustainable.

Electrification not only opens the way to greater flexibility but also enables more effective use of self-generated energy and storage solutions. This strengthens industrial competitiveness while supporting the energy transition by integrating renewable energy at the local level.

Thanks to projects like eLITHE, the ceramic industry will demonstrate that it is possible to combine technological innovation and sustainability.

Picture courtesy of Galeanu Mihai

Background:

The EU-funded eLITHE project aims at developing highly efficient and safe electric high-temperature heating processes that replace fossil-based heating systems in the industrial ceramic sector.

Provided by iCube Programme