Metal Impro
Maribor, Eslovenia
AREA:Metal processing industry
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES: Transition to a small business client
Numbers and Facts
- Feeder: TESVOLT TS HV 50 E
- Power and Capacity: 50 kW/56 kWh
- Battery Cell: Lithium-ion prismatic NMC (Samsung SDI)
- Efficiency (battery): Up to 98%
- Expected Cycles: 6,000-8,000 (0.5C to 1C at 23°C +/-5°C and 100% discharge rate — DoD)
- Operating Temperature: -10 to +50°C
- Battery Inverter: SMA STPS X 50
About the client
The Slovenian company Metalna IMPRO is engaged in the manufacture of metal products. It specializes in pressure vessels and tanks, process pipes and assembly, heat treatment and other metal structures. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Maribor. It supplies a wide range of industries including chemical, food, gas, oil and gas, pharmaceutical and others.
The challenge
In 2022 and 2023, we witnessed high fluctuations in the price of electricity caused by the precarious situation in the world, such as the war in Ukraine, disruptions in supply chains and climate change. Companies are very sensitive to such fluctuations, as this affects thetheir cost of the production process and, ultimately, the cost of the finished product to their customers.
At Metalna Impro, they have been thinking about building their own production resource on their roof for some time, but the solar power plant produces electricity only during the day in sunny weather. This means that the company is still forced to buy electricity from the distribution company mainly in the early hours of the morning, when the most energy-consuming machines are started, at night hours, on cloudy days and in the winter months, when the sun is significantly less available. In recent years, we have also witnessed a boom in production resources, which has further reduced the purchase prices of the produced surpluses of the solar power plant. This means that the company sells the surplus produced for an ever lower price, while often electricity prices in the summer months are even negative during the hours of peak production and consequently it is economically more reasonable to limit production at that time.
Solution
By reducing the connection power to 43 kW, it is possible to make the transition from a large business customer to a small business customer. That is, the draw from the network should not exceed 43 kW, and the power difference above this limit is provided by the battery saver.
Through a detailed analysis of 15 minutes of annual consumption data, we have determined the optimal 89.25 kWp solar power plant with storage tank TS HV 50 E 50 kW/56kWh, which provides the company with sufficient production, power and capacity, with which it is 100% self-sufficient in annual net-metering and all peaks above 43 kW are cut.
Benefits
With the transition to a small business customer, Metalna Impro will benefit from a number of advantages that will have an extremely beneficial effect on the annual cost of electricity. This will decrease by more than 70%, mainly due to the high level of self-sufficiency.
In addition, the company will also save on network costs, since the billing power will be below 43 kW. This will avoid the high prices that are predicted precisely from the title of the new network system after 1.7.2024.
In addition, the company will also save by reducing the cost of the contribution of SPTE RES and by abolishing the cost of reactive energy. By introducing the solution, Metalna Impro will improve its financial performance, establish a sustainable commitment and increase its competitiveness in the market.
Requirements for the electricity storage tank:
- Fast reaction time of tip cutting system
- Stable system operation with good manufacturer support
- Reliable and user-friendly Energy Management Application (EMS) user interface
With the solution provided to us by Geo Energy, our peak loads are more than halved, allowing us great savings. At the same time, we have become self-sufficient and more energy efficient, which is important for our business in the future. The expert team of Geo Energy took care of the implementation at all times and efficiently carried out a smooth transition to the new solution.
Zdravko Stojko, Director, Metalna Impro
I am proud that we have successfully completed a technically very demanding task and provided the customer with the highest possible energy savings. Tesvolt's feeder and their exceptional support is a big factor for success.
Miha Požauko, Director, Geo Energy
100% self-care
100% self-sufficiency of Metalni Impro d.o.o. will guarantee a stable and low cost of electricity for the future in uncertain times and with a high degree of innovation. By switching to a small business customer and self-sufficiency, the company will avoid the high costs of the energy input set by the electricity supplier and the costs of the network part of the received energy set by the distribution network operator.
