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Why Track Record Matters When it Comes to Voltage Optimisation

The UK saw record energy price increases in 2021, and it looks like the current energy crisis will continue well into 2022. As these costs continue to put pressure on the bottom line for many businesses, many are looking for ways to reduce the impact of spiraling energy bills.

Energy efficiency technologies that can reduce overall consumption without the need to reduce day-to-day processes and productivity offer one of the best ways of achieving this.

Voltage optimisation has an exemplary track record amongst energy efficiency technologies in this regard. As well as significantly reducing energy consumption across a site, voltage optimisation and regulation also contributes to your other energy priorities: reducing carbon emissions associated with your power consumption and reducing the risk of power disruption caused by minor spikes or sags in your mains voltage.

With the pressure of progressing towards net-zero mounting for many businesses, energy efficiency technologies, including voltage optimisation, have slipped down the list of priorities when it comes to the limited funds available for investment in energy infrastructure. Now that the energy market has dramatically swung back into one where combating costs is a top priority, voltage optimisation, also commonly referred to as voltage regulation, is receiving a renewed interest from businesses looking to reduce electricity costs and carbon emissions.

While the technology is well-proven, finding a provider and setup that is the best fit for your business priorities can be a challenge. As with any technology that finds itself well-suited to changing customer priorities, new entrants to the market are often quick to look for an opportunity. With traditional energy consultancy services, such as procurement, squeezed by rising costs and a shrinking number of energy suppliers, many energy service providers are turning their hands to offering technology solutions, including voltage optimisation.

As a result, a broad range of different figures regarding the energy efficiency improvements and payback periods associated with voltage optimisation are now being presented to businesses. It can be tempting to opt for the proposal that promises the best, most rapid return on investment. However, doing so could put your organisation at risk of an investment that performs drastically less well than predicted.

When it comes to levels of efficiency for voltage regulation, it is important to bear in mind that as technologies collectively have become more energy efficient, the percentage savings offered by voltage regulation have decreased. Similarly, the level of savings are closely linked with the voltage profile of your site; the best levels of savings will likely only apply if your site is consistently being supplied with an overvoltage.

For these reasons, promises of high levels of savings and improvements in energy efficiency should be carefully assessed. There are both manufacturers and energy consultancies available with a strong, demonstrable track record for delivering projects that perform as expected, if not exceeding initial estimates. Ensuring that you are working with an experienced, open and honest partner is crucial to unlocking the full benefits of voltage optimisation.