Crushers, concrete mixers, mills. Peak loads cost money. Since 2026, even more. BESS smooths your load profile and earns on the energy market.
A production stop during a grid outage means missed delivery deadlines and contractual penalties. At the same time, rising energy prices and the new demand tariff are driving up operating costs for energy-intensive plants.
A BESS on-site provides dual security: peak loads are smoothed and grid charges drop, while critical processes are protected in milliseconds during grid disturbances. At the same time, the storage buffers the additional electricity demand from process electrification, a key building block for your Climate 2050 strategy.
Price Hedging
Quarries and cement plants are among the most energy-intensive operations in Switzerland. BESS decouples your electricity procurement from the spot market: charge at low prices, discharge at high prices. This measurably reduces your exposure to price volatility.
Crushers, tube mills and conveyor belts create extreme power spikes at start-up, often 3 to 5 times the rated power, for just seconds to minutes. These periodic mega-peaks drive the measured 15-minute peak sky-high.
The new demand tariff in force since 2026 (Mantelerlass) makes precisely these spikes directly and measurably expensive. For production operations with energy-intensive equipment, every uncontrolled crusher start becomes a cost driver, regardless of how short the spike lasts.
A grid upgrade takes months to years. Production cannot wait. Delivery contracts, seasonal demand and construction deadlines do not pause for grid expansion.
With your own photovoltaic system and battery storage, a large share of electricity demand can be covered by renewable energy, significantly reducing CO₂ emissions from energy procurement.
up to 70%
Demand Charge Savings
Crushers, concrete mixers and mills create short mega-peaks. BESS automatically smooths your load profile. The measured 15-minute peak drops, and your grid fees drop with it.
<20 ms
Resilience & Backup Power
A grid outage brings crushers, concrete mixers and mills to a sudden halt. BESS responds in milliseconds and protects critical processes. Much faster than any diesel generator.
4 Sources
Additional Revenue Around the Clock
During operation, the storage smooths peak loads and optimises self-consumption. When crushers, concrete mixers and mills are idle, it earns through ancillary services (frequency regulation) and arbitrage (energy trading).
If the demand tariff rises, energy costs jump sharply. For quarries, cement plants and concrete plants with periodic mega-peaks, this means: every uncontrolled crusher start costs money directly.
| Parameter | Typical Production Operation |
|---|---|
| BESS Power | 2-25 MW |
| BESS Capacity | 4-50 MWh |
| Typical Peak Loads | Crushers (500-2,000 kW), Mills (200-800 kW) |
| Peak Shaving Potential | 20-50% |
| Typical Payback Period | 4-7 years |
CHF 300-400m
Market potential for energy-intensive industry in Switzerland
50-80
Potential sites across Switzerland
2026+
Rising grid usage charges as the grid must handle more demand in the future.
-70%
BESS costs since 2022. The investment becomes increasingly attractive.
Peak Shaving Reduction
Crushers, concrete mixers, mills and kilns create periodic mega-spikes at start-up. BESS detects these peaks and delivers the missing power from the storage system. The grid only sees the smoothed draw.
Self-Consumption Optimisation
Large roof and open areas on plant premises are ideal for PV. BESS stores the surplus and releases it when crushers and conveyor belts need the energy.
Grid Services (NDL)
BESS can provide local grid services such as voltage regulation and congestion management. Grid operators compensate these services and create an additional revenue stream.
Ancillary Services & Arbitrage
When BESS is not needed for peak shaving (at night, on weekends), it automatically earns with frequency regulation and arbitrage (energy trading).
Detailed explanations of all use cases can be found on our use cases page.
External Reference Project, USA
Holcim Colorado: Solar + BESS at Cement Plant
At its cement plant in Florence, Colorado, Holcim is deploying a combination of solar and battery storage. Around 40% of energy demand is covered on-site. An international benchmark for decarbonising energy-intensive building materials production.
NRG Solutions, In Progress
SABAG Rothenburg: 3.45 MW / 5 MWh BESS
Industrial customer with a strategic outlook investing in a battery storage system today, for ancillary service revenue and future site peak shaving of an e-truck fleet.
NRG Solutions, In Planning
Eschenbach Quarry: 3.45 MW / 15 MWh BESS
Quarry with periodic peak loads from crushers and conveyor belts. 3.45 MW / 15 MWh battery storage for peak shaving, self-consumption optimisation and ancillary service revenue. Managed by NRG Optimization AG.
Crushers, concrete mixers, mills. Together we look at whether a BESS makes sense at your site.
Or directly:
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NRG Solutions AGBranch Office
Rue des Moulins 51«With the battery storage system from NRG Solutions, we contribute to stabilising the energy system while at the same time leveraging new economic potential.»
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The sizing depends on the load profile of the production equipment, primarily the number and power rating of crushers, mills and conveyor belts. For a typical quarry, we calculate 2-25 MW of power and 4-50 MWh of capacity. NRG Solutions advises you in a free initial consultation on the optimal sizing.
No. In addition to the classic purchase (INVEST model), NRG Solutions also offers a RENTAL model. NRG finances, builds and operates the storage system. You benefit from day 1 without equity. Revenue sharing is arranged transparently.
Crushers and tube mills create extreme load spikes of 500-2,000 kW at start-up. Since grid fees are based on the highest 15-minute peak, these short spikes drive costs massively upwards. BESS detects the spikes and discharges precisely. Typical reduction: 20-50% of the measured maximum load.
Yes. BESS responds in milliseconds during grid disturbances, significantly faster than any diesel generator. This protects critical processes: conveyor belts run down in a controlled manner, control systems stay active, and a production stop with consequential damage is avoided.
When the production equipment is not running (at night, on weekends, during maintenance shutdowns), the full BESS capacity is available for additional revenue. The NRG energy management system automatically switches between peak shaving, ancillary services (frequency regulation) and arbitrage. This way, the storage earns around the clock.
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