Abstract

This study describes the development of an operation-independent simulation model for electrified die-casting foundries which use a smart grid system to cover their energy requirements. The model uses real weather and electricity price exchange data for the simulation period. It can be used to determine and compare electricity costs for production at specific times of day and year, as well as the economic efficiency of different photovoltaic (PV) system and electricity storage variants. It also enables the proportion of different energy sources for each configuration to be analysed. This can be carried out using the model for locations throughout Germany. Additionally, this paper presents exemplary simulation studies that demonstrate the model’s wide range of applications. The results provide an initial overview of the potential savings and optimisation. In the future, the model will provide a basis for determining optimum plant layouts and production times using simulation-based optimisation.