Carbon-neutral energy center for a metalworking factory NEUFE
About this good practice
NEUFE, a Czech metalworking manufacturer in Přibyslav, faced serious grit outage and disruptions due to an unreliable local power grid. Frequent outages negatively impacted their sensitive manufacturing processes such as annealing and enamelling, causing significant financial losses over a year.
To resolve these issues, NEUFE established an integrated energy center, combining rooftop solar photovoltaics (550 kWp SolarEdge), lithium-ion battery storage (1 MWh), and two gas-powered CHP units (each 100 kWel by Viessmann). Ultra-fast inverters and model-predictive controls were installed to ensure real-time optimization, minimal energy costs, and maximum reliability. Excess energy (both electricity AND heat) is sold locally in a local distribution network.
The solution significantly improves the factory's resilience. Additionally, the practice aims for annual energy balance-sheet electricity self-sufficiency, drastically reducing its carbon footprint and dependency on the volatile electricity markets (although still slightly sensitive to natural gas market volatility)
The primary beneficiaries include NEUFE and adjacent factories gaining reliable local heat and power. Main stakeholders are technology suppliers and local industrial partners.
Expert opinion
Resources needed
Total investment ~500k EUR. Although the PV, storage and ICE CHP energy system was privately funded, NEUFE received public support via OP PIK (e.g. for e-mobility) and Recovery fund digitalization call, supporting related infrastructure - innovation of the factory hall, new rooftop, digitalization.
Evidence of success
NEUFE achieved full annual balance sheet energy self-sufficiency, eliminated production downtime from power outages, and significantly reduced energy costs. Advanced predictive optimization enables efficient operation, with surplus energy marketed locally. Despite initial subsidy rejection, project due date was still met and perhaps was even faster and easier to achieve.
Potential for learning or transfer
The NEUFE practice offers a replicable model for industrial energy resilience in metalworking industry, particularly in regions with unstable grids or high energy costs. The system is modular—solar PV, battery storage, CHP, and predictive controls. Key success factors include data-driven system optimization, smart integration of diverse technologies, and a flexible approach to financing (benefitting from being subsidy-independent). Challenges to transfer may involve finding qualified suppliers for complex integration and ensuring local capacity for energy system management. This practice is especially relevant for small to mid-sized industries seeking energy sufficiency. It has strong potential for replication across NUTS 2 regions focused on industrial decarbonization and grid independence, especially in metalworking industry.
Further information
Good practice owner
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