Reduce Your Running Costs And Emissions Through Voltage Optimisation

What is Voltage Optimisation?

The voltage at which electricity is supplied has historically varied from country to country. In the UK the supply voltage was originally set at 415V. However, under European harmonization, the nominal supply voltage in the UK has been officially down rated to 400V. In practice there has been no change.

The result is that manufacturers have to supply equipment that operates over a wide voltage range. However, there will be an optimum voltage when it works at its most efficient. As the UK voltage is at the high end of this range, by reducing the supply voltage systems, it can operate more efficiently thereby reducing electricity consumption.

What it does

A voltage optimiser is a transformer unit which is connected between your incoming power supply and your main distribution panel. This transformer is tuned to your site voltage and reduces it to an optimum level to ensure that all your plant has sufficient voltage to operate correctly but maximise efficiency. As such, it is a passive unit which is pretty much a “fit and forget unit”.

The optimiser would be sized to your recorded maximum demand to reduce installation costs or to the capacity of your supply to maximise flexibility.

What are the benefits?

As well as significant reductions in your electricity consumption the installation of voltage optimisation equipment has other benefits:

Reduced maintenance costs. By reducing voltage stress on equipment it can increase the life expectancy on motors and reduce maintenance failure.

Filter harmonics. The site is protected from mains borne harmonics and also reduces feed back to the mains, reducing disruption to sensitive electronic equipment.

Eliminates transients in the voltage supply up to 25,000V which can otherwise damage sensitive electronic equipment.

The results:

It will reduce your electricity bill. They have been widely installed over a range of sites and, on average the expected savings can be in the region of 10% - 13%. In cases where the installation is sized to the maximum demand this will usually give a payback of under three years.

For advice on how to implement Voltage Optimisation on your building, please contact:

Ian Humphreys : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it    Tel: 01883 331630