What exactly is peak shaving?

Peak shaving means reducing the highest peaks in energy consumption to stay within the contracted capacity of the grid connection. This prevents penalties and grid overload. A smart EMS automatically recognizes these peaks and controls devices or batteries to temporarily reduce consumption. This keeps the load more stable and predictable.

What are load shifting and energy storage?

To enhance peak shaving, companies often combine it with other strategies:

• Load shifting
  Shifting energy-intensive processes to times when the load is lower or electricity is cheaper. Think of charging at night or production during the weekend.
• Energy storage
  Temporarily storing electricity (e.g., in batteries) for later use when consumption or prices are high. This makes energy use more flexible.

By using these techniques together, you create a system that both flattens peaks and intelligently leverages price fluctuations and generation profiles.

Why the combination is more effective

Peak shaving, load shifting, and storage perfectly complement each other. While peak shaving primarily prevents short peaks, load shifting ensures a structural distribution of consumption. Energy storage makes both strategies more flexible. The benefits of this combination are:

• Greater stability
  You not only prevent peaks but also distribute consumption throughout the day.
• Lower costs
  You benefit from cheap electricity periods and avoid peak tariffs.
• Better utilization of self-generated power
  Solar energy generated during the day can be used later through storage.
• More grid capacity
  Total consumption remains the same but is better distributed.

According to Energeia the combination of these three strategies can result in up to 40 percent less peak load and up to 20 percent lower energy costs.

How does this work in practice?

A practical example clarifies this. Imagine a logistics company charging dozens of electric trucks during the day while its solar panels are producing at full capacity. Without management, peaks occur. With a smart EMS the following happens:

• The EMS predicts the afternoon peak and starts charging a battery in the morning.
• When the trucks start charging, the battery temporarily supplies power to limit the peak (peak shaving).
• Some charging sessions are shifted to the evening (load shifting).
• The battery is recharged at night with cheap off-peak power (energy storage).

The result: more stable load, lower energy costs, and no grid capacity overruns. According to RVO companies typically recoup this investment within three to five years.

What technical requirements does this combination entail?

The combination of peak shaving, load shifting, and storage requires technology that measures, predicts, and controls. The building blocks are:

• Smart metering infrastructure
  Real-time data on consumption and generation.
• Battery storage
  For immediate response to peaks and price differences.
• Predictive software
  Based on weather and production data.
• Smart EMS
  The brain that controls and optimizes all components.

This combination not only makes a company energy-efficient but also future-proof. A smart EMS ensures all components work together in real-time, without manual intervention.

Which markets and tariffs play a role here?

By combining load shifting and storage with peak shaving, you can also benefit from price fluctuations in energy markets. Key markets include:

• Day-ahead market
  Prices are set 24 hours in advance. With predictions, the EMS can purchase cheaply.
• Intraday Market
  Here you can still trade or manage shortly before delivery.
• Imbalance Market
  Where flexibility is rewarded. See TenneT.

By intelligently switching between these markets, you maximize the value of flexibility. Zympler makes this possible automatically through integrated market connections.

What are the financial results?

The combination of peak shaving, load shifting, and storage yields not only technical benefits but also financial ones. Typical results:

• Savings on grid costs: 10–25% due to lower peaks.
• Better utilization of self-generated power: up to 20% more self-consumption.
• Revenue from flexibility: €10,000–€30,000 per MW per year through market participation.
• Payback period: 2–4 years, depending on scale and management.

According to RVO companies can achieve an average of 15 percent more return with an integrated approach than with individual measures.

How to start combining?

A step-by-step approach works best:

• 1. Start with insight
  Measure your consumption and identify peaks.
• 2. Add control
  Use an EMS to automatically flatten consumption.
• 3. Integrate storage
  Add a battery to gain more flexibility.
• 4. Optimize with load shifting
  Let the EMS shift consumption to favorable times.
• 5. Monitor and scale up
  Use data to determine where further gains can be made.

A smart EMS automates these steps and evolves with the complexity of your energy consumption.

Case study: manufacturing company with battery and EMS

A food producer in North Brabant combined battery storage with EMS control. The system charged the battery during cheap night hours and used it during the morning peak. Simultaneously, cooling installations were flexibly managed. Peak load decreased by 32 percent, and total energy costs by 18 percent. The investment was recouped within three years.

The next step: from saving to earning

By combining peak shaving with load shifting and storage, you shift from cost savings to an active revenue model. Companies that leverage their flexibility in markets benefit twice: lower grid costs and additional income. A smart EMS makes this step easily accessible, as it automatically combines control and market integration.