Finding energy technology solutions that actively target a business’s sustainability goals, whilst also improving energy costs and power resilience, is challenging. Many technologies excel in one area, but risk undermining others. For example, diesel generators are great in terms of power resilience, but drive up carbon emissions and costs. Other technologies such as battery energy storage are ideal at improving all three aspects of the ‘energy trilemma’, but the cost of delivering such a project, while declining rapidly, puts it out of the reach of many smaller businesses.
Therefore, the challenge for businesses is finding a technology that can improve their businesses energy costs, sustainability and power resilience, at a acceptable cost. Here is where Voltage Optimisation (VO) excels. Unlike battery energy storage, the range of voltage optimisation options available include lower cost options suited to the budgets of smaller businesses, and its smaller size makes it suited to most types of sites, including retailers, hospitality and offices, where it would be impractical to locate a containerised battery system.
Once installed, voltage optimisation starts delivering savings immediately, and enjoys a typical payback period of between 12 and 24 months. Quality VO installations have a range of risk mitigation mechanisms in place, including surge protection, inline fuses and undervoltage protection. This ensures that VO delivers most cost-effective energy usage across a site without any increased risk of disruption. Real-time monitoring and reporting ensures that those savings are completely transparent as well as easy to access and track, helping users to make further informed decisions on their energy management.
Despite these benefits, voltage optimisation remains relatively modest in terms of popularity as an energy efficiency tool, regardless of the decade-long track record of delivering substantial cuts to energy costs. Many businesses that do invest are delighted with the results, but in many cases, there is still a reluctance to adopt VO.
Realistic Not Optimistic Savings
Perhaps the biggest reason for this reluctance stems from a small number of voltage optimisation providers making blanket claims regarding how much they will save on energy bills, with 20%, 25% or even 30% savings being promised in some cases. In reality, the way that voltage optimisation works by reducing incoming voltage and supplying that conditioned voltage to site equipment means that every site will be different in terms of the levels of savings it can secure. The level of incoming voltage from the grid, the types of equipment found on-site, and the nature of a site’s operations can all impact the potential level of savings.
It’s crucial to work with a Voltage Optimization (VO) supplier that is upfront and transparent about the technology’s capabilities. Guaranteed savings should only be promised after a site survey has been conducted, giving the provider a complete understanding of your current circumstances. Be cautious of blanket percentage savings claims, especially those significantly higher than the typical 6-9% for most VO installations.
Benefits of Voltage Optimisation
When it comes to the return on investment for voltage optimisation, the energy cost savings unlocked by optimised site voltage and better energy efficiency are only part of the equation. Optimised voltages also substantially reduce wear and tear on electrical equipment and infrastructure, which in turn can dramatically reduce repair and replacement costs, as well as reducing incidents of costly downtime due to equipment failures. For sites with large amounts of sensitive equipment and high incoming voltages, these savings can quickly add up and contribute significantly to the overall cost savings VO can offer.
The conditioning of incoming voltage also improves a site’s power resilience in another way. As sites become increasingly electrified and incorporate more smart technologies, even minor voltage spikes or sags can cause sensitive equipment to trip or shut down. These brief disruptions can lead to lengthy restart processes, resulting in significant productivity losses. Additionally, the increased digitisation of sites heightens the risk of sudden shutdowns, which can result in the loss or corruption of vital data.
Find out more about our voltage optimisation technology here.
