Ventilation Voltage
optimisation is key to H&V energy savings
Mick Greensmith explains why voltage optimisation should form part of every building’s energy reduction strategy and how it can particularly benefit heating and ventilation systems
The national sales manager of V04, Mike Greensmith
a site’s elec- tricity is generated – whether through solar, wind power or from the National Grid, installing a volt- age optimisation system can pro- vide substantial energy savings. Voltage optimisation has been benefiting large-scale industrial sites for over 13 years. Thanks to new technology systems are now also available to provide the same advantages for medium-sized premises with electricity bills of up to £30,000 per annum.
The 100Amp 3 phase system is suitable for sites using up to 300,000 kWh per annum. Available in 10V, 15V and 20V models, the solution can help smaller businesses to achieve sub- stantial power and carbon savings as well as extending the life of equipment and machinery.
Immediate savings
The solution, which can be installed in a matter of hours, reduces energy consumption by between 8 and 15 per cent, and delivers immediate savings. Return on investment is commonly less than three years – a finding that has been independently trialled
18 | October 2014 | HVR
and verified by leading energy supplier RWE npower.
Sites with heating and ventila- tion systems that can be expected to benefit include small hotels, restaurants and pubs as well as many retail outlets. Healthcare sites such as dentist, GP and vet- erinary surgeries can also benefit, along with fire stations, petrol sta- tions, industrial units and even some larger homes.
The premise behind voltage optimisation is simple. There is a discrepancy between the voltage that is supplied to a building – on average 242V – and the optimum voltage required by electrical equipment which is standard throughout Europe – only 220V. But with this new technology systems are installed in series with the mains electricity supply, which ensures that a building only receives and pays for the voltage that it actually needs, and no more. An oversupply of voltage is not only wasteful and expensive but also causes damage to equipment by increasing the heat generation in motors such as those used in ventilation systems and air condi- tioning units. Voltage optimisation
eliminates this risk, so extending the life expectancy of appliances. Voltage optimisation additional- ly can also enhance equipment performance by levelling out peaks and troughs in electricity supply, which can be particularly damaging to sensitive compo- nents. These spikes are caused by jumps and falls in demand on the grid at certain times of the day. Volatility in levels is likely to increase as more solar and wind micro-generation systems feed power into the grid, making the need to maintain a steady voltage supply more important than ever.
In practice
VO4 100Amp 3 phase systems have been installed at a number of convenience stores by the Co- operative retail group, which is averaging energy savings of 10 per cent. The environmentally respon- sible retailer has a stated aim of reducing gross greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2020 and recognised the part that volt- age optimisation could play in achieving this objective. Rob Scoulding, acting energy improvement planning manager at the Co-operative explain: “We had already seen very useful reduction in our electricity use at the large supermarkets in our group through the adoption of voltage optimisa- tion and, when we became aware of the VO4 offering for smaller sites it became clear that, with the huge numbers of smaller stores in our portfolio a device such as this could make a great contribution towards our targets”.
Units were initially installed in six stores in the Portsmouth and Southampton areas. Results were
A V04 voltage
optimisation system
so encouraging that a second wave of 22 stores in the Plymouth area have now also had systems installed and the scheme is being extended further with preparatory surveys underway at many other Co-operative sites around the UK. The increased life expectancy of electrical appliances and equip- ment is also well documented. Stuart Wright, director of Chrome Technologies based in Hartlepool has installed several VO4 units into commercial premises, noting sav- ings of 12 per cent to 17 per cent The ‘fit and forget’ technology provides savings at entry point, no matter how the electricity is gener- ated – whether by photovoltaic or other sustainable means. Once fit- ted the system operates on all cir- cuits, 24 hours a day. It does this through magnetic interaction so has no moving parts, requires no maintenance and comes with a five-year warranty. Cutting energy wastage not only minimises spending but will also contribute to the UK’s target of reducing greenhouse gas emis- sions by 80 per cent from the 1990 baseline by 2050. This is backed up by the offer of low-cost financ- ing available through the non- profit making Carbon Trust for UK businesses aiming to introduce energy-efficient equipment. Bringing the benefits of voltage optimisation to the untapped SME sector, has huge potential to make a major positive impact both nationally and internationally. It will enable more businesses than ever before to achieve significant and cost effective energy and car- bon reductions. // The author is the national sales manager for V04 //
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