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Understanding Voltage Optimisation

Voltage optimisation is an energy efficiency and cost-saving technology that is used to regulate and condition the power you receive from National Grid. Voltage optimisation is typically lower cost than many other energy efficiency technologies, and can be installed quickly and without disruption to your site’s operations. Once installed, voltage optimisation can substantially reduce your energy costs, as well as delivering better energy efficiency that helps to eliminate carbon emissions while protecting your site from fluctuating voltage from the grid.

How Does Voltage Optimisation Work?

Typically, electrical equipment is designed to operate at 220V. In the UK, our supply voltage is intended to be 230V, but in practice a consistent 230V supply is rare. Voltage fluctuates depending on the operations of the power supply network, and typically to ensure that voltage remains within permitted limits many sites actually receive an overvoltage. Permissible voltage in the UK ranges between 216 and 253V.

What happens if voltage is too high?

On average, National Grid supplies voltage at around 242V, substantially higher than what is required for your site infrastructure and equipment. This overvoltage is simply wasted energy, costing you more money on your energy bills as well as inflating the carbon emissions associated with your energy use, known as Scope 2 emissions. Overvoltage also increases wear and tear on your site equipment and leads to more frequent maintenance needs.

What is a voltage optimiser?

A Voltage Optimiser works by eliminating this overvoltage, returning the additional, unnecessary voltage to the grid. As well as eliminating overvoltage, voltage optimisation also conditions power, delivering a more consistent voltage supply to your site and equipment.

Does voltage optimisation really save money & electricity?

Once installed, voltage optimisation (VO) is able to deliver a substantial reduction in your total energy consumption. Typically, this ranges between 8% and 12%, although this will vary depending on the nature of your site and the current-voltage you are being supplied with.

Overvoltage can risk significantly reducing the total lifespan of your equipment, incurring additional costs on top of inflating your energy bills through the elevated need for repairs and replacements.