Hirtshals Stevedore, in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute, H. Jespersen & Søn, Port of Hirtshals, and Greenport North, has successfully completed an interesting pilot project demonstrating how intelligent cooling system management can result in significant savings of up to DKK 470,000 and contribute to more sustainable operations.
At Hirtshals Stevedore, a pilot project concerning intelligent management of the company’s cooling system has now been completed with positive results. The project has demonstrated that adjusting cooling schedules in line with electricity prices and grid tariffs can result in annual savings of approximately DKK 22,000 for Hirtshals Stevedore. Had the company operated with a variable electricity price instead of a fixed-price agreement, the savings could have been as high as DKK 470,000 per year.
According to the Danish Technological Institute, many companies have a great untapped potential to reduce their energy consumption by implementing intelligent solutions.
– Many companies have a significant untapped potential to optimise their energy consumption and reduce operating costs by implementing intelligent solutions that enable flexible operation. With adjustments, existing systems can be used more efficiently, strengthening competitiveness and contributing to the green transition, says Mikkel B. Copeland, Business Manager at the Danish Technological Institute.
Technology and collaboration create smarter cooling operations
The electrical installation company H. Jespersen & Søn joined the pilot project at Hirtshals Stevedore to test their solution for cooling systems. They saw an opportunity to further develop their product in collaboration with the Danish Technological Institute and gain valuable insight into how the solution for control of cooling systems can be better adapted for flexible operation.
– We have extensive experience with similar solutions, but we now need more theoretical knowledge. Greenport North introduced us to the idea, and we saw great potential in the pilot project, particularly in understanding the impact of electricity tariffs on costs. We are very interested in working on similar projects like the one with Hirtshals Stevedore, where we can contribute to the development of businesses at the Port of Hirtshals and across the country, says Henrik Mikkelstrup from H. Jespersen & Søn.
Greater insight leads to better decisions
Gaining an overview of their data has given Hirtshals Stevedore a clear picture of how their electricity consumption is linked to their operations. This has already led to the implementation of time-based control of their cooling system. Although the system itself has not been replaced, the new insight into energy consumption has enabled them to make better operational decisions.
– Energy is not just numbers we write down – we compare how much goes through the freezers, when goods arrive and leave the facility, and how much electricity we use. This enables us to make better decisions about our operations and finances, explains Uffe Nielsen, Director at Hirtshals Stevedore.
The positive results show that the same approach can be applied to other companies with cooling and freezing systems. This confirms that smarter, cheaper, and more sustainable operations do not necessarily require investments in new systems but rather a better utilisation of existing ones.
A pilot project rooted in EFFORT
The pilot project builds on the foundations laid by the ELFORSK-funded EFFORT project, which had already initiated data collection from businesses at the Port of Hirtshals. It was through EFFORT that the collaboration with Hirtshals Stevedore began, and monitoring equipment was installed to track electricity consumption. The pilot project expanded on this work by including data from temperatures and cooling systems, making it possible to explore further opportunities for optimizing operations.
