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Embracing the benefits of ‘green technology’


According to recent studies by the Carbon Trust, despite pandemic


disruption and extremely challenging market conditions, over 70% of companies are continuing to prioritise sustainability and environmental management issues.


Here, Alexander Pavlov, general manager, Atlas Copco Compressors UK, examines the role of compressed air systems in green production


W


herever energy is consumed we must use it smarter. But with 10% of global electricity


consumption going to generating compressed air, air compressor manufacturers can make a real difference by developing solutions that not only make compressing air more energy efficient, but that support manufacturers in their journey towards carbon-neutral production.


WHY GO GREEN? It’s all about energy efficiency and carbon reduction. Energy costs make up 80% of a compressor’s total cost of ownership. So, investing in environment-friendly compressors, and optimising existing air systems that use significantly less energy, can sharply reduce both the production cost of compressed air and a company’s carbon footprint. But how much energy can be saved by going


green? This is a particularly important question for smaller companies, which may be concerned about the higher initial purchase price of an energy-efficient compressor. To some, it might seem that the ‘safe’ option would be to risk keeping the old compressor even though it attracts a disproportionately high electricity bill. However, not switching to environment-


friendly technology is much riskier as it invites a degree of uncertainty about equipment reliability and ability to maintain production processes. Furthermore, green air compressors provide


stability by guaranteeing that a company will lower the production cost of compressed air, protected from fluctuating energy prices. A green compressor offers greater reliability,


22 ENERGY MANAGEMENT - Summer 2021


longer maintenance intervals and ensures compliance with all current and upcoming emissions standards.


ASSESSING COMPRESSOR NEEDS While environment-friendly compressors are all about efficiency, picking the right model still matters. The buyers therefore have to be aware of their compressed air needs. How much airflow and pressure do they need and for which applications? Will the compressor run constantly or intermittently? How important is air quality? Does the air demand fluctuate or remain steady? Carrying out a non-intrusive energy audit to


measure the efficiency of an existing compressed air installation, involving the use of data logger, is the best way to discover possible energy savings from a compressed air system. Combined with plans for specific future requirements, this data allows plant operators to understand and improve their system’s energy efficiency. It also answers many of the questions that


help to determine the ideal size and type of compressor – whether a model with variable speed drive is better for fluctuating air demand, whether a piston compressor is sufficient for intermittent use and limited air demand, or is a rotary screw compressor best suited for the application need.


CHOOSING THE MOST ENERGY-EFFICIENT SOLUTION If an application requires a constant speed at all times, then a fixed-speed compressor will often get the job done. Once it is switched it on, it


gives full power. Most industrial applications, however, have a fluctuating air demand. In that case, a variable speed drive (VSD) compressor is the better choice because it matches output to user demand and will realise considerable energy savings in the long run. A VSD or VSD+ compressor will reliably deliver top quality air while lowering energy consumption by an average of 50%. When a business decides to go green and switch


to an environment-friendly air compressor, then it has already made the most important and beneficial choice. However, in making that choice there is another major consideration: the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Compressors are a prime example of how pronounced the difference can be between initial investment and the TCO. The TCO of a compressor consists of the cost


of buying, owning and operating it during its lifetime. As a rule, because of manufacturers’ technology developments embodied in advanced, environment-friendly compressors, these units may carry a higher price tag, but they also offer much lower operating costs, which provide payback in the long run. The initial investment constitutes only a small


fraction of the TCO. Energy costs make up the bulk of it and will likely become an even more important issue in the near future if energy prices continue to rise despite evident progress in, and nationwide dependence on, sustainable alternative energy sources. If energy costs take up an even bigger


share of the total cost of ownership, premium quality compressor products capable of


www.energymanagementmag.co.uk


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