Why should the automated guided vehicles' batteries be used in the manufacturing plants as an energy storage?

Abstract

This paper examines to what extent automated guided vehicles' (AGV) batteries can be used as a mobile electrical energy storage to increase energy flexibility and reduce peak loads in manufacturing plants. First, it is indicated, what demand response and peak shaving in manufacturing mean. Then, existing battery applications for peak shaving are presented. Finally, the benefits and potential of using AGVs as energy storage to reduce peak loads in the company are illustrated, after an approximate cost calculation for peak shaving of a company with AGV batteries are performed in a use case scenario considering AGV availability during manufacturing. The results of the approximate cost calculation show that it can be beneficial for companies to use AGV batteries as an energy storage in manufacturing plants to reduce their peak loads.