Trimet Aluminium starts trial operation of its ‘virtual battery’ at Essen aluminium plant

Trimet Aluminium has started trial operation of its ‘virtual battery’, which would control the energy supply for aluminium production at its Essen plant. This is expected to create a power storage facility that will make it easier to integrate the discontinuously generated electricity from renewable energy sources into the power grid. About 36 million euros were invested in the project.

“We have reinvented the electrolysis process for the production of aluminium,” says Philipp Schlüter, CEO of Trimet. “For the first time, we will be able to vary the energy supply during operation significantly. This will allow us to react to changes in the electricity supply, which will benefit the power supply to households in Essen. As an aluminium producer, we are naturally an energy-intensive company. As such, however, we are also a valuable partner for the energy revolution.”

After the conversion of 120 furnaces at the Essen aluminium plant, 25% more or less electricity can be consumed for up to 48 hours with uninterrupted production. The energy requirement can also be reduced to zero for up to an hour if necessary leading to about 2,000 megawatt hours of electricity storage for use in the energy revolution.

An aluminium smelter needs continuous energy supply. With the use of virtual battery, Trimet is trying to shift away from the conventional process to make the energy-intensive electrolysis process more flexible. Trimet worked with Bergische Universität Wuppertal to develop a controllable heat exchanger for the virtual battery. This keeps the temperature in the pot constant despite the change in energy supply and provides flexible control of the process.