Nobian has reached another milestone on its path toward greater sustainability: The chlor-alkali electrolysis at its site in the Höchst Industrial Park now flexibly adjusts production based on the availability of electricity in the German grid. When availability is low – for example, due to fluctuations in wind and solar energy – production can be reduced; when availability is high, production can be increased. This way, Nobian actively contributes to grid stability while optimizing energy consumption.

The transition was made in collaboration with Next Kraftwerke, operator of a virtual power plant that connects electricity producers, consumers, and storage systems. Production is usually planned to the hour one or two days in advance – depending on the electricity price forecast and the flexibility of customer orders. Production flexibility is even further increased by using the so-called E-Flex mode: This allows the plant to react in real time to current electricity price spikes. During high demand, production can be temporarily reduced, and missing quantities are supplemented from storage. Throughout the whole process, production safety is our top priority: Safe and reliable supply to our customers must be ensured at all times.  Automation allows us to switch flexibly between the models, supporting the power grid while also reducing our energy costs. We maintain full operational control, ensuring automation never compromises our safety standards. 

The chlor-alkali electrolysers at the Ibbenbüren and Bitterfeld sites are also converted to run on the energy-optimized mode. This means all Nobian electrolysis plants in Germany now work flexible and contribute to the energy transition. 

Klaus Kuhlage, Site Director Frankfurt: “Our goal is to become climate neutral by 2040 – ahead of the targets set by the Paris Climate Agreement. Flexibility helps us produce more when green energy is abundant and reduce consumption during shortages. This is an important step for us and underlines our commitment to our sustainability mission: Grow Greener Together.”