Industrial companies make inadequate use of the flexibility potential in the power grid

Berlin. In an energy system in which wind and solar power are becoming increasingly important, flexible consumers are important: If companies adapt their electricity consumption to supply at short notice, they can stabilize the system and benefit from low prices. Large industrial companies in particular have considerable potential. But they have so far only made inadequate use of their opportunities.

This is shown by a study by the management consultancy McKinsey, which is available to Handelsblatt. "The flexibility potential that we have identified is considerable. But surprisingly little is being done when it comes to using the potential," said Alexander Weiss, senior partner and energy expert at McKinsey, to the Handelsblatt.

Only a third of companies are actively examining whether they can take advantage of cheap or negative electricity prices by deliberately postponing electricity purchases. For the study, McKinsey conducted more than 20 detailed interviews with industrial companies, including energy buyers, energy managers and site managers.

Several factors often work together: “The flexibility potential is not increased because in reality it is simultaneously limited by an interplay of physical limits, organizational hurdles and economic uncertainty - and not by a single isolated problem,” says the study. Weiss speaks of an “implementation gap”.