Belcolade, part of Puratos group, operates a high-tech chocolate production plant. Heating and cooling play a crucial role in the chocolate production process. With rising energy costs and a strong sustainability ambition, UBS sought a solution to optimize their energy use but without compromising operational continuity.
Their goal was clear, reduce energy costs and CO₂ emissions through smart automation, all while keeping their buffers for heating and cooling precisely controlled.
What does the Endustries software do?
At the heart of the optimization lies Endustries’ cloud-based software platform. The system controls a setup of three heat pumps, two buffer reservoirs (hot and cold) and a gas boiler, all integrated with Belcolade’s existing SCADA control system.
Here is what the software enables:
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Real-time calculation of ideal setpoints for heating and cooling buffers.
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Automatic dispatch of those setpoints to the SCADA controller.
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Continuous optimization based on hourly energy market prices (Belpex Day-Ahead).
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Secure cloud-based operation, with minimal local infrastructure impact.
By constantly adjusting how and when energy is used, depending on grid prices, buffer states and demand forecasts, the software actively shifts consumption to the most economical moments.
Tangible savings each week
The cost report for March through May 2025 reveals consistent and impressive savings. Week after week, Belcolade paid up to 20% less per MWh by using the optimized dispatch, while total energy consumption remained stable.
Examples:
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Week of May 15, 2025:
Spot price reduced from € 61,25/MWh to € 42,14/MWh (commodity price) -
Week of April 14, 2025:
Spot price reduced from € 70,63/MWh to € 57,53/MWh (commodity price)
This proves that optimization doesn’t just make sense technically, it works financially too. These reports are fully transparent and exportable from the Endustries dashboard for operational and financial review.
Price mechanism behind the savings
In Belgium, typical industrial electricity contracts allows industries to ‘click’ (lock in) electricity volumes at fixed prices. However, real-world consumption may differ. In that case, the difference is settled on the spot market:
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If more is used than clicked: the extra is paid at the spot price.
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If less is used: the excess is sold at the spot price
Because spot prices can be volatile and even negative the Endustries software strategically shifts consumption to low-price hours. This is known as real-time arbitrage. By combining clicked volumes and spot market signals, Entras maximizes the financial benefit of every kilowatt used.
Optimisation-as-a-Service that pays off
The Puratos use case illustrates how Optimisation-as-a-Service (OaaS) empowers industrial operations like Belcolade to not only monitor energy consumption, but to actively control it in line with economic signals, operational constraints and sustainability goals.
The result? Lower costs, lower emissions, and full transparency.
