AGO AG Energie + Anlagen invited to the 2. Northern Bavarian Energy Day

• Modern energy management requires holistic consideration
• Representatives from more than 60 companies from Bavaria and Germany present
• Joint event of vbw/BayMEVBM, BF/M, KNF and AGO AG Energie + Anlagen

Energy efficiency – a matter of holistic consideration

Kulmbach, Thurnau 8 July 2009: Again, this year‘s joint event organized by BF/M-Bayreuth, Kunststoff-Netzwerk Franken and AGO AG from Kulmbach gathered numerous company representatives in Kulmbach for an exchange of current questions concerning the energy market. Considering the increasing global competition it’s up to the companies to exploit available potentials for success as creatively, innovatively and efficiently as possible. Modern energy management represents one of these factors of success. The North Bavarian Energy Day 2009 was pleading for a holistic consideration of the energy flow in companies.

In their greeting words, both Franz Brosch, Managing Director of vbw/BayME/VBM-Office Upper Franconia and District President of Upper Franconia, Wilhelm Wenning, emphasized the importance of efficient energy management for small and medium-sized companies. They both made their opinions clear when they were denouncing cartel sinners in the energy sector and they pointed out that the subject „energy management“ does not just improve company balances but also makes the environment benefit from it. Mr. Brosch strongly disapproved price agreements among energy suppliers as they massively distort the market situation. Wilhelm Wenning, District President of Upper Franconia, referred to Ludwig Erhard as the mentor of social market economy by saying „Those, who have read Ludwig Erhard know what to think of concentrations.“ The event was hosted by Kathrin Heckner, Managing Director of BFM-Bayreuth as well as Hans Ulrich Gruber, BOD of AGO AG.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Markus Brautsch from the University of Amberg-Weiden spoke about „energy efficiency in companies – cost savings and environmental protection“. He explained which steps companies have to go through in order to approach an optimal utilization of energy. By means of practical examples he calculated the enormous saving potentials for small and medium-sized companies.

Afterwards, Christian Männl from AGO AG Energie + Anlagen introduced the fields of application of modern combined heat and power plants with reference to the regulations of the Kraftwärmekoppelungsgesetz (German law on the cogeneration of heat and power). It’s important to always consider the actual local conditions, runtime, operating costs and potential tax incentives, says Männl.

„Heat pumps“ were the subject of the next lecture held by Norbert Blümig from Alpha-InnoTec GmbH from Kasendorf. With these energy systems outputs of up to 800 kW can be reached by cascade coupling. The speaker demonstrated different possibilities of application as well as the utilization of different heat sources such as geothermal energy, water or air.

After the coffee break which the participants used for motivated discussions, Martin Hoyer from ARBURG GmbH focused on the philosophy of holistic company consideration. His lecture „energy flow of injection molding and consequences for optimized facility engineering“ covered the broad range from the injection molding machine over electric and hydraulic drive systems to ventilation systems and cooling technologies. He explained energy balancing by means of examples of injection molding companies and demonstrated the according quantitative energy saving potentials. This holistic consideration corresponds to the philosophy of Arburg and is consequently applied in their production facilities.

The subject „holistic consideration of the energy flow“ was continued by Walter Schuller from Siemens AG in Nuremberg. He introduced possibilities of how to identify high energy consumers in companies by means of corresponding meters and how to control and decrease power peaks. The speaker compared that to a car driver without a speedometer. „Those, who don’t control their speed will sooner or later get metered by a third party and have to pay“, says the speaker. It’s the same in the energy sector. Only by locally measuring your own energy consumption on a permanent basis it is possible to identify peaks and to level them over a specific period of time. That leads to a much better basis for negotiation with the energy suppliers and helps to massively decrease energy purchase costs.

Holistic consideration also means to purchase energy professionally. Possibilities therefore are tenders and electronic auctions. The speaker, Dr. Stefan Arnold, gave the participants an overview on the economical conditions of the energy market and explained its composition. He introduced general procurement options and explained the principle of manual energy tenders as well as the model of electronic auctions for the procurement of electricity. The exciting and diverting lecture was complemented by practical examples and provided a compact overview on possible procurement strategies in the energy market.

At the end of the event the participants all agreed that the aim of companies learning by companies was achieved once more. During the subsequent buffet the participants made suggestions for contents of the North Bavarian Energy Day 2010.

We are always pleased to be able to contribute in preparing complex subjects for companies in a way that they can benefit from them in their daily work says Kathrin Heckner, Managing Director of BF/M-Bayreuth.

Please find further information on the North Bavarian Energy Day 2009 under www.bfm-bayreuth.de or under www.kunststoff-netzwerk-franken.de.

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About AGO AG Energie + Anlagen

AGO AG Energie + Anlagen, with its registered office in Kulmbach, was founded in 1980 and is specialized in the area of innovative and efficient energy supply facilities for industrial customers and municipalities. Main focus of AGO AG Energie + Anlagen is laid on the following business divisions: plant development and implementation, as well as service and consulting. The core competence of the company mainly commits to thermal power stations, to heating, cooling and ventilation technology plant construction, biomass cogeneration plants and trigeneration. Site studies and development, consulting in energy efficiency, resource and fossil fuel management as well as emission trade management – these factors complete the business model. AGO symbolizes efficiency, security and technological competence of your energy supply facilities.