A generic energy consumption model for decision making and energy efficiency optimisation in manufacturing

Today, energy efficiency in production systems has partially been achieved on the component level, but methods are missing for the energy optimal operation of plants, machines and components. We therefore, propose a novel generic method to model the energy consumption behaviour of machines and plants based on a statistical discrete event formulation. It is lean, integrative and scalable and can be used directly in planning processes to make predictions of the energy consumption of different configurations in different scenarios based on any amount of available information. Using the modelling framework, we introduce applications in real-time, tactical and strategic decision making processes that make it possible to exploit the potential for energy consumption minimisation of any given machine or production system while obeying conflicting general conditions.