WHITEPAPER

Reducing energy costs and emissions at a German shopping center

Posted on April 07, 2025

A microgrid solution can reduce the costs of power and heating by 57%
Executive summary

Who

Shopping mall owner

Where

Germany

Why

For businesses dependent on high on-grid electricity and heating costs, a microgrid solution that utilizes combined heat and power (CHP) provided by a gas genset together with solar panels and a battery energy storage system (BESS) offers excellent opportunities for substantial savings.

Main benefits

Energy cost optimization; Resilience through grid independence

PDF

Shopping centers have high electricity and heating demands. As a result, energy consumption makes up a large part of their operating expenses. However, as the following case study illustrates, a microgrid solution that integrates the combined heat and power (CHP) of a gas generator set with a photovoltaic (PV) and a battery energy storage system (BESS) can help shopping center owners reduce their overall energy costs by 57%.

Optimizing energy costs with microgrids

To illustrate the savings potential of a microgrid solution for shopping centers, we created a business case calculation for a facility in Germany using HOMER GRID™ simulation software.

Microgrid solutions are ideally suited for facilities with high power and heating demands

Low electricity costs are crucial for shopping center profitability. Power supply reliability is also essential for smooth daily business operations. Power outages can lead to an immediate revenue loss, often with other negative consequences such as spoiled refrigerated goods. This microgrid solution is ideally suited for reducing energy costs and improving the carbon footprint by efficiently combining cooling, heat and power from a gas genset with rooftop photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Results of the use case

As the use case illustrated, a microgrid solution with a gas-powered genset offers several benefits for shopping centers still relying on conventional power from the grid and heat from a gas-fired boiler.

Investing in a microgrid solution
Microgrid setup

A microgrid solution combines solar panels covering most of the rooftop surface of a building with the cogeneration of heat and electricity supplied by a gas generator set. Additionally, a small battery energy storage system is used to stabilize the load and ensure smooth operations.
Total investment: € 1,15m

Initial situation
Saving on grid consumption charges

In the initial situation, the shopping center draws electricity from the local utility company at a cost of € 0.22 per kWh. Additionally, there is a demand charge of € 120 per kW per year. It also purchases gas-generated heat for € 0.28 per m3.
Total operating costs: € 406k per year

Microgrid case

With the microgrid case, the shopping center is self-sufficient. The only on-grid costs are fees for the backup grid connection, amounting to € 66 per kW of contracted backup power. Other than that, there are only maintenance costs for the genset, rooftop solar panels and the battery energy storage system (BESS) as well as gas consumption costs. These are nearly double with the conventional case.
Total operating costs:  € 173k per year
Total savings: € 233k per year

Payback period

Although a microgrid solution is a significant investment, the savings make up for it within 5 years. With the life expectancy for the components estimated at around 20 years, a microgrid offers significant savings over the entire lifetime.
The payback period is 5 years.

  

Microgrid services, system integration and smart control

Our microgrid systems offer a wide variety of solutions and services. Each can be individually designed to serve specific needs. Special microgrid services we offer include consulting, planning, the single-source supply of hardware and software,as well as installation and maintenance.

Start saving costs with microgrids

Are you curious if microgrids can help your facilities save on energy costs?

Contact us today at
info@ps.rolls-royce.com
Or call +49 7541 90-7 7777

Rolls-Royce Group
www.mtu-solutions.com

Your benefits:
—     Energy cost optimization
—     CO2 avoidance
—     Increased grid independence

Rolls-Royce provides world-class power solutions and complete lifecycle support under our product and solution brand mtu. Through digitalization and electrification, we strive to develop drive and power generation solutions that are even cleaner and smarter and thus provide answers to the challenges posed by the rapidly growing societal demands for energy and mobility. We deliver and service comprehensive, powerful and reliable systems, based on both gas and diesel engines, as well as electrified hybrid systems. These clean and technologically advanced solutions serve our customers in the marine and infrastructure sectors worldwide.

Within its Net Zero at Power Systems program, Rolls-Royce has set out to sustainably reform its product portfolio so that by 2030, new technologies can save 35% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to 2019. This near-term target plays a significant role in Rolls-Royce Group’s ambition to achieve net zero by 2050 at the latest. A key element in achieving these goals is the release of the highest volume mtu engine products and systems to run on sustainable fuels as quickly as possible.

Reducing energy costs and emissions at a German shopping center

Download (PDF 453 KB)

Connect with Us

Customer Assistance Center

We are here to take your Sales & Service questions around the clock, 365 days a year.

Read more

Sales & Service Locator

Find your local partner for Sales & Service.

Read more

mtu Stories

Reports and interviews about mtu products and solutions.

Read more