How Helmond Metalen chooses self-sufficiency

Helmond Metalen is a family business active in metal recycling since 1965. Its mission: collect and recycle metals responsibly, working with customers and partners to cut CO₂ emissions.

Alongside its circular business of metal recycling, Helmond Metalen is transitioning its operations to electric. Two major power users stand out:

• an electric crane for lifting and moving metals, and

• an electric shear that cuts metals into manageable pieces.

The site’s perimeter wall is covered with solar panels – 1,600 in total – good for 600 kWp and roughly 530,000 kWh of generation per year. The concrete challenges:

• Peak loads from large users like the crane and shear

• Demand peaks that at times exceed the contracted grid capacity

• A mismatch between solar generation (1,600 panels; 600 kWp; ~530,000 kWh/yr) and actual consumption

• Dependence on the grid despite a high share of on-site solar

To reduce the mismatch, maximise use of clean on-site power, and avoid breaching contracted capacity, we installed a smart battery system. The system provides 125 kW of power and 215 kWh of storage; enough for Helmond Metalen to store solar energy and deploy it when it’s needed most.

Our Energy Management System (EMS) optimises the site’s energy flows, reducing reliance on the grid. When the sun shines, the battery charges on their own clean generation. When peak users call for power, the system responds instantly and supplies the required capacity.

The business, and its biggest power users, now operate predominantly on solar energy.

Since commissioning, the smart battery system has lifted Helmond Metalen’s self-sufficiency by 41.55%, avoiding 6,737 kg of CO₂ emissions.

The installation is modular, so it can be expanded at any time. As Helmond Metalen electrifies more processes, they may need additional power and/or capacity. In that case, we simply scale the current system, without disruption.