Energy voltage optimisation or energy voltage management is the use of specialised technology to regulate and optimise the voltage levels in your electrical network.
The technology works to ensure that the electrical equipment is working at the most efficient voltage levels, reducing your business's overall energy consumption, improving power quality, and extending the lifespan of electrical appliances.
How does Voltage Optimisation Work?
The system works by adjusting the voltage supplied to the electrical equipment to match its optimal operating voltage. In some cases, the national grid network supplies higher voltages than appliances and machinery need to operate efficiently.
If you reduce the excessive voltage to the level the devices require, you can save without compromising on performance.
What are the Types of Voltage Optimisation?
There are different approaches to voltage optimisation, including:
Fixed Voltage Optimisation: This system maintains a constant reduction in voltage, typically around 5-10%, to ensure that equipment operates within its optimal voltage range.
Dynamic Voltage Optimisation: This system adjusts the voltage levels in real-time based on the load and other factors, optimising energy savings while maintaining voltage stability.
Electronic Voltage Optimisation: These systems use electronic components such as transformers or power conditioners to regulate and optimise voltage levels.
What are the Benefits of Voltage Optimisation?
Voltage optimisation can benefit all industries including commercial, industrial, and domestic. Installing the technology can bring several benefits, primarily a reduction in energy consumption and lower energy bills.
Other benefits include prolonging the life span of your electrical equipment by decreasing wear and tear, improving power quality, and reducing carbon emissions.
How can Voltage Optimisation Save you Money?
In addition to the above, let's dig deeper into how an energy voltage management system could save your business money.
Reduced consumption: Savings are mainly achieved from a kw/h reduction as the electrical device operates close to its optimal voltage.
Reduced demand: Running your electricals at their optimal voltage can help generate a small reduction in demand. However, this is normally not great enough to reduce Authorised Supply Capacity charges.
Reduced Power Charges: If demand is reduced then you may also see a reduction in power charges.
Reduced Emissions: Significant reductions in CO2 emissions could be achieved if you reduce your kw/h consumption.
Reduced Maintenance Costs: Running your electrical devices at their optimal voltage will extend their lifespan overall, but it will also reduce unnecessary wear and tear.
Is it Suitable for My Business?
Deciding whether voltage optimisation would be beneficial for your business can be complicated, you need to know the nitty-gritty details of your equipment and how voltage-dependent they are.
If a high percentage of your devices are voltage-dependent then this technology could help to significantly reduce your energy bills. On the other hand, if the bulk of your machinery is voltage-independent, then your returns may be limited.
Examples of voltage dependant equipment include halogen energy-saving lamps and fluorescent lamps. In these cases, reducing the supply voltage would directly reduce the energy consumption. Whereas, LED lights often have the same power demand regardless of the voltage supply meaning there will be little to no benefit to voltage management.
How to Measure Voltage Optimisation Results?
Unfortunately, there is no straightforward way to measure whether or not energy voltage optimisation has had a significant impact on your energy consumption.
Experts say the best way to tell the scale of impact that the system has had on your business's energy consumption is to compare three months' bills from before and after the equipment has been installed.
However, even in this case, it is important to note factors that may impact results. For example, more energy may be required in certain weather conditions or increased demand during a specific period. Additionally, you may need to alter or replace equipment to see the best returns.
What are the Disadvantages of Voltage Optimisation?
The largest disadvantage of voltage management is the initial cost to set up and install the technology needed, especially if it creates any disruption to your business's operations.
Another potential disadvantage is that initial savings may be minimal due to external factors, and you may have to make changes to your equipment to start seeing bigger savings.
If you are ever uncertain about whether this could be a viable option for you, speak to an energy consultant who can help guide you into making the most informed decision.