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In order to allow for truly holistic considerations, as intended in the Digital Factory concept, energy-related factors need to be considered. This has not been widely implemented for discrete event simulation (ie, material flow simulation) in industrial companies, yet, even though it may foster the energy efficiency within production sites considerably. A primary reason for the lack of acceptance is that previously discussed approaches did not meet the users’ requirements. This paper discusses how a suitable extension (eniBRIC), which renders energy-related considerations possible within material flow simulation, can be developed paying heed to both user requirements and the state of the art. A special focus is set on its implementation in Siemens Tecnomatix Plant Simulation. The workflow for the integration of the extension into existing and new simulation models is outlined. Opportunities for its utilisation in specific application examples, as well as the associated extra time and effort are discussed

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Striving for sustainability, most industrialised countries make increasing use of renewable energy sources to meet their energy demands. This causes power generation to become more decentralised and volatile, making flexibility in production (i.e. energy demand) a fundamental necessity for manufacturing companies. Hence, it is to be expected that companies which attain a symbiosis of renewable energy applications, efficient technologies, and innovative approaches to production organisation will have a competitive advantage in the future. The EU funds research in this direction as part of the REEMAIN project, amongst others. In particular, a concept for Resource Networks is developed. These networks aim to manage production using renewable energy sources by dividing a complex factory into smaller subsystems including energy suppliers and consumers, as well as storages to reach this symbiosis. This paper explains the concept and its application within Fraunhofer IWU's E³-Research Factory.