VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION
Voltage Management & Optimisation Systems
In today’s world, where energy consumption is a pressing concern, businesses and individuals alike are seeking ways to reduce their electricity bills, lower their carbon footprint and make their operations more sustainable. One effective technology for business that has gained significant attention is voltage optimisation, specifically, 3-phase voltage optimisation systems. Powerdown220 is the UK’s leading expert in voltage optimisation solutions, offering high quality voltage optimisers, professional installation and exceptional project support.
UNDERSTANDING VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION
Voltage optimisation is a smart and proactive approach to manage electricity consumption by controlling the incoming voltage supplied to electrical equipment. Average UK voltage is 242v, around ten per cent higher than equipment requires. This higher voltage not only leads to increased energy consumption, but also results in higher electricity bills and unnecessary wear and tear on electrical appliances.
Voltage optimisation lowers the incoming voltage to a level that is more suitable for the electrical equipment’s efficient operation. By optimising their voltage, businesses can achieve significant energy savings and reduce their carbon emissions, making a positive impact on the environment.
HOW VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION WORKS
Voltage optimisation systems are installed between the incoming electrical supply and the electrical equipment, acting as a buffer. These systems monitor the voltage levels and adjust them to ensure a consistent and optimal voltage range.
The optimisation process involves stepping down the voltage when it exceeds the desired range and slightly boosting when it falls below the required level. This way, electrical equipment receives a steady, regulated supply of voltage, maximising its efficiency and lifespan.
How voltage optimisation supports renewable energy
Renewable energy sources like solar and wind are inherently variable, with power output depending on weather conditions. This fluctuation can create challenges for grid stability. Voltage optimisation helps to smooth these fluctuations by ensuring that voltage levels remain consistent even when renewable generation varies. This supports a more stable integration of renewable energy sources into the grid, reducing the risk of voltage spikes or dips.
Voltage optimisation helps to maximise the efficiency of renewable energy systems. Solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable generation sources often operate more efficiently when the voltage is kept within an optimal range. By regulating the voltage, VO reduces energy losses and improves the overall efficiency of renewable systems, ensuring that more of the generated energy is effectively used.
Fixed Reduction (F Range)
Unlike many other fixed reduction voltage optimisers, which require the isolation of the electrical supply to your premises to allow adjustments to be made. The F Range can be quickly and easily adjusted by yourself using a manually operated selector switch, without the need for isolations, thus avoiding any costly disruptions to your operations. Furthermore, unlike many other fixed reduction voltage optimisers, the F Range is equipped as standard, with a manually operated bypass switch, which allows you to seamlessly switch between grid and optimised voltages.
Features & Benefits
- Savings of up to 19%, (dependant on load types and grid voltage).
- Simple robust, cost-effective no-frills solution with 25-year guarantee.
- Easily installed.
- Manually operated voltage reduction selector switch, allows you to choose between five levels of voltage reduction (-6% to -10% in 1% increments).
- Manually operated bypass switch, which allows you to seamlessly switch between grid and optimised voltages.
Fixed Intelligent Reduction (FI Range)
PD220’s mid-range voltage optimisers build on the robust design and standard features of our F Range optimisers, but with the inclusion of intelligent metering and monitoring system remotely accessed via an online portal. The system measures energy consumption, voltage reduction, energy, carbon and financial savings which are displayed on the portal. Intelligent seamless automatic switching between grid supply voltage and optimised voltage ensures that a guaranteed minimum optimised voltage is always maintained. This makes the FI Range suitable for all types of business’s including large manufacturing and processing sites that operate all types of machinery and complex control systems. Providing these additional features, at an affordable price point, make the FI Range an extremely popular choice with PD220 customers.
All models in the FI Range provide a fixed percentage reduction in voltage, adjustable in 1% increments from -6% to -10% to provide the ideal optimised voltage to suit your operational requirements, the energy saving you want to achieve (up to 19%) and your existing incoming grid supply voltage.
Features & Benefits
- Savings of up to 19%, (dependant on load types and grid voltage).
- Intelligent metering and monitoring remotely accessed via an online portal
- Real time measurement and display of energy consumption, voltage reduction, energy, carbon and financial savings.
- Manual and automatic report generation.
- Real time graphical representation of all measured values.
- System health and status display, plus email notification of alarms.
- Intelligent seamless automatic switching between grid supply voltage and optimised voltage, to ensure a guaranteed minimum optimised voltage is always maintained.
- Robust, cost-effective design with 25-year guarantee.
- Easily installed.
- Five levels of voltage reduction -6% to -10% in 1% increments by manually operated voltage reduction selector switch, (on optimisers rated 400A or less), or adjustable ‘links’ on larger optimisers.
- Manually operated bypass switch, which allows you to seamless switch between grid and optimised voltages.
BENEFITS OF VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION
REDUCED ELECTRICITY BILLS
One of the primary advantages of voltage optimisation is its potential to deliver substantial cost savings on electricity bills. By utilising only the necessary voltage, energy consumption is lowered, resulting in reduced expenses over time. At Powerdown220, our typical customer saves between seven and twelve percent on their electricity bill through our voltage optimisers.
LOWER CARBON EMISSIONS
By consuming less electricity, thanks to voltage optimisation, businesses and individuals play a part in reducing carbon emissions. This aligns with sustainability goals and environmental responsibilities.
EFFICIENT VOLTAGE MANAGEMENT
Voltage optimisation ensures a consistent and stable voltage supply, improving the performance of electrical equipment, such as power supplies and variable speed drives.
EXTENDED EQUIPMENT LIFESPAN
UK Wiring Regs (BS7671) states that powering equipment at a constant voltage of 240v and above can decrease its lifespan by up to 46 per cent. Voltage optimisation mitigates the wear and tear caused by excessive voltage, increasing the lifespan of electrical equipment. This leads to lower maintenance and replacement costs, contributing to long-term savings.
ENHANCED RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI)
Investing in voltage optimisation technology yields a quick and substantial return on investment. The savings on electricity bills quickly offset the initial investment, providing long-term financial benefits.
Voltage optimisation is a smart solution that empowers businesses to save energy, reduce electricity bills, and contribute to reduce emissions targets. Our voltage optimisation machines come with intelligent monitoring software, that allows customers to see their savings in real-time through their own portal, download reports on their usage, and notice spikes and surges happening across their site.
Powerdown220, with its expertise in voltage optimisation technology, offers high quality optimisers, professional installation services and exceptional after-sale support. We can support your project from start to finish.
WHERE IS VOLTAGE OPTIMISATION USED?
Voltage optimisation is used by a wide range of entities, including:
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BUSINESSES
Many businesses across various industries, such as manufacturing, retail, hospitality, and data centres, implement voltage optimisation to reduce energy consumption and lower electricity bills. Industrial facilities in particular, with a significant number of electrical equipment and high energy demands, can benefit greatly from this technology.
HOSPITALITY SECTOR
Hotels, restaurants, and other hospitality establishments can benefit from voltage optimisation by reducing their energy costs, thus improving their bottom line and promoting their eco-friendly practices to customers.
DATA CENTRES
Data centres, which consume massive amounts of electricity to operate and cool their servers, can achieve significant energy savings with voltage optimisation technology. This efficiency improvement aligns with the data centre industry’s growing focus on sustainability.
PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS
Government agencies, schools, universities and hospitals often use voltage optimisation to minimise energy costs and enhance their sustainability efforts. These institutions have large energy footprints and can achieve substantial savings through voltage optimisation.
RETAIL STORES
Retail chains and individual stores implement voltage optimisation to cut operational costs and reduce their carbon footprint. For retail businesses with multiple locations, voltage optimisation can lead to substantial cumulative savings.
RENEWABLE ENERGY INTEGRATION
Voltage optimisation can also be used in conjunction with renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. It helps in stabilising and optimising voltage levels to ensure seamless integration and efficient use of renewable energy in the grid.