Eco-stability
FIEGE is upgrading its logistics centres into small, sustainable power plants. Energy hubs are to be created by drawing on large-scale PV arrays, energy storage systems and charging parks which will make FIEGE more independent from the energy market and resilient against outside influences. Hartmut Entrup, Director Energy Solutions at FIEGE, explains what these ecological energy systems are to look like.
FIEGE has been dealing intensely and on a strategic level with all things energy. What is the reason behind this?
We have 131 locations world-wide. Every one of these locations has a rather large rooftop which is perfectly suited for the installation of photovoltaic arrays. From an economic perspective, it makes sense for us to tap this potential. However, there is a further, even more important reason why we are investing in the energy transition: FIEGE is driving the company’s net-zero transformation. To achieve this, we have set ourselves ambitious climate targets which also include improving the CO2 balance at our locations. Our plan is to gradually fit FIEGE’s 40 to 50 biggest logistics centres with PV arrays, battery storage systems and a charging infrastructure.
In conversation with: Hartmut Entrup, Director Energy Solutions at FIEGE. (Photo: FIEGE)
How is FIEGE hoping to benefit from this?
High, at times fluctuating energy prices incentivise to us to become more independent from the energy market. Also, we want to increase our rate of captive use at our logistics centres. In this context, however, it is important to know that our locations, contrary to industrial production operations, require much less energy. It therefore makes twice as much sense to advance the coupling of electric power, heat and e-mobility within the sectors by increasingly switching to thermal pumps and installing charging points for electric trucks at our locations. This will allow us to use more of the PV power that we produce for ourselves without having to feed any excess into the public grid. At the same time, we look for buyers in the vicinity of our locations to whom we can sell our surplus of power. There is considerable interest because it is convenient for companies in that they don’t need to build the respective infrastructure themselves.
At what speed is FIEGE advancing the expansion of PV arrays?
Right now, a solid 520,000 square metres of our rooftop areas have been fitted with photovoltaic systems. Each year sees us build additional capacities of somewhere between ten to fifteen megawatts. By 2030, we want to see the production of green energy on our balance sheet outperform our consumption.
As far as the eye can see: FIEGE is fitting its logistics centres – such as this one in Zülpich – with large PV arrays. (Photo: FIEGE)
What role do energy storage systems play?
Battery storage systems will play a key role in our energy ecosystems. This year, we invested in the cleantech start-up, Voltfang which already – a mere five years after its formation – has become the leading European provider of battery storage solutions for the industry, businesses as well as network applications. We are looking to set up Voltfang’s containerised solution at our locations, which has a capacity of around five megawatt hours, for multi-use operations. This means that the power stored can be used to optimise the energy that we need, to cut peak demand and, with a view to the future, can also be used in arbitrage trading. The first Voltfang container is already in operation at our branch in Greven-Reckenfeld. And most recently, we have commissioned Voltfang to build further battery storage systems with a total capacity of 15.6 megawatt-hours and a total output of 7.3 megawatts.
Big Brother: FIEGE increasingly banks on containerised solutions by Voltfang. The first system has been in operation at the logistics centre in Greven-Reckenfeld since the start of the year – many more will follow. (Photo: Voltfang)
Energy ecosystems support not only the decarbonisation of the locations but also the decarbonisation of the FIEGE fleet. How do energy ecosystems impact e-mobility?
By now, we operate 14 electric trucks. The second-generation trucks in particular are suitable for long-haul traffic. We want to demonstrate that e-mobility in this segment can be both sustainable and economically viable. That is why we are investing at our locations specifically into the charging infrastructure for electric trucks. As a charge point operator, we are then planning to open these to outside fleet operators looking for a way to top-up a charge on their daily routes. And this is where the solar power that we produce ourselves comes in handy.
And where is tomorrow’s journey headed?
Our goal is for the concept of these energy ecosystems to benefit not just us, but also others. Our energy ecosystems are scalable, economically viable and, with a view to the future, can crosslink to create a virtual power plant with, for example, wind turbines. We want to contribute to the successful turnaround of energy policies while at the same time grow the level of renewables to become an integral element of our business model. Which is why we will be offering our skillset in this field as a service to others in the future.
Perfect power patron: we are expanding the charging infrastructure for electric trucks. (Photo: FIEGE)
