FEATURE ENERGY EFFICIENCY
TIME FOR OPTIMISATION A
The government’s carbon reduction targets and rising energy costs mean that building owners and operators in the UK are under more pressure than ever to get the greatest efficiency from their energy use. This is where voltage optimisation comes in as Schneider Electric’s David Lewis explains
report carried out by NICEIC and the Electrical Contractors’ Association
(ECA) (2021 Vision: The Future of the Electrical Contracting Industry) indicates that whilst the construction market will show only modest growth over the next ten years, more than half of the activity will be focused on repair, maintenance and improvement of existing buildings. With more reliable energy efficient buildings in increasing demand, reducing operating costs to achieve bottom line improvement is key - and effective energy management provides the cornerstone to achieving this. So, how can this be achieved? One
fundamental route is investment in solutions that will reduce a building’s costs, optimise efficiency and optimise safety - one such solution is voltage optimisation. Voltage optimisation is proven to reduce electrical consumption and consequently energy cost and CO2 emissions, even so, it is a relatively straightforward technology. In addition, business tax burdens such as the climate change levy and the carbon reduction commitment may also be reduced.
HOW DOES IT WORK? Voltage optimisation, as the title suggests, optimises the low voltage used by the building or site in line with the building’s electrical equipment needs, in order to run at its most efficient. It is particularly effective in the UK where there is an inherent problem of over voltage, which not only wastes electricity but also damages and reduces the life span of certain kinds of electrical equipment. Typically, electricity supplied by the
National Grid in the UK is supplied at around 242V yet the majority of our electrical and electronic equipment is designed to run at a supply of around 230V and operate most efficiently at 220V. This means there is a gap between the supply voltage and the voltage which the equipment needs, resulting in energy consumption in most buildings being significantly higher than required. Voltage optimisation therefore, presents an excellent opportunity to help
8 MAY 2014 | ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
customers save money, reduce carbon, help equipment last longer and reduce maintenance costs. It should be noted that not all
applications will be suitable for voltage optimisation. Some voltage optimisation providers will carry out site surveys including voltage logging, energy audits and network analysis so it is worth contacting your prospective provider to see if it offers this service. In addition, it is worth considering whether there are any other energy saving projects planned in the near future as this may affect the voltage optimisation savings and, as a consequence, the business’ return on investment. It is important to combine voltage optimisation with a comprehensive monitoring solution in order to achieve maximum savings. These monitoring solutions look at where, when and how energy is being consumed within a building and then allows you to strategically balance emissions, efficiency, reliability and cost.
POWERLOGIC AND POWER MONITORING Schneider Electric’s PowerLogic range of meters and Power Monitoring software provide businesses with a complete understanding of their organisation’s
Right: voltage optimisation is a relatively straightforward but highly effective and proven way of reducing electrical consumption
Below: voltage optimisation can be installed anywhere on a network, from a complete distribution system to single feeders, or even single applications such as lighting
analysis software, a power management solution acts like a layer of intelligence across a business’ energy assets. It monitors key energy points and inputs 24 hours a day, then processes and delivers that data as timely and relevant information to those who need it. Where power quality and network resilience are a consideration, power factor correction and active harmonic filters can be additionally utilised for even greater power conditioning. Voltage optimisation offers a quick
and proven way of enhancing a building’s electrical network, saving money and energy, as well as reducing operating expenditure and achieving greater resilience with a significant return on investment. What’s more, as the government strives to meet its ambitious carbon emissions targets, it is now offering incentives to encourage businesses to adopt voltage optimisation technology. Whilst voltage optimisation is a proven
unique energy landscape. The range also provides hands-on tools to improve energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, enhance productivity and increase power system reliability. Comprising metering, communication hardware and advanced
way of lowering energy consumption, businesses still remain slow on the uptake. A significant amount of energy is wasted in buildings simply due to electrical equipment being designed to work at a lower voltage than that supplied by the National Grid. Voltage optimisation in the correct situation and combined with a comprehensive monitoring solution is one of the simplest, most effective ways of reducing carbon emissions and energy bills which all businesses should consider.
Schneider Electric
www.schneider-electric.com T: 0870 608 8 608
Enter 201 / ELECTRICALENGINEERING
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