Voltage Optimisation at Iceland Foods

Voltage Optimisation at Iceland Foods

Energy is a rapidly increasing issue for retailers. The Government has introduced targets and carbon budgets that require both businesses and individuals to reduce their energy usage significantly over the coming years.

What is Voltage Optimisation and how does it work

Voltage optimisation is becoming a rapid energy saving technique for businesses across the UK. Simply put the UK has higher voltages than the requirement of modern electrical equipment. Higher supply voltages lead to increased consumption as highlighted by the IEE, a 230 V linear appliance used on a 240 V supply will take 4.3% more current and will consume almost 9% more energy.

Voltage Optimisation is designed to match the load voltage requirements with a lower supply voltage. This will ensure all equipment is running closer to the designed operational parameters.

It works by reducing the average supplied voltage of 242v, down to the nominal UK voltage of 230V. Most European and UK electrical equipment is rated at 220V, so the process of voltage optimisation corrects the over voltage and improves the equipment lifecycle.  

SavaPower is particularly suited for a majority of retail environment due to it’s small modular design and comes with features such as automatic bypass system, which can restore full utility power in the event of a fault.

Over 400 SavaPower units were installed at Iceland Foods, with savings varying from 7% to 15%. Voltage optimisation works best on inductive loads, including refrigeration, ventilation and air conditioning, lighting and a variety of electrical appliances.

"During 2011 Iceland invested in excess of £3 million in energy saving projects including Voltage Optimisation and High Efficiency lighting. These projects are already showing improvements which have further reduced our stores’ carbon footprint by over 5% in those stores targeted."