RSPB - The Lodge

RSPB – powerPerfected

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is an internationally recognised nature conservation charity that speaks out for birds and wildlife and tackles problems that threaten the environment. The Lodge, at Sandy, Bedfordshire, is one of their 200 nature reserves and their UK headquarters.

The challenge, the solution and the savings

The RSPB looked to us to make good on our assertion that we could significantly add to the energy savings they were already making using other technologies, whilst also protecting the entire electrical infrastructure at their offices. The electrical load in the offices included two UPS devices, lighting circuits, air-conditioning and standard office equipment. Following a process of evaluation, a 280kVA/400A powerPerfector unit was installed in May 2008. See figures 1 and 2 for a before and after comparison.

Topline results

Following the installation, there was an indicated 12.8% reduction in average kWh consumption based on a pre and post installation comparison of all the data. This equates to a projected annual saving of 58 tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions.

Voltage Power Optimisation, the technology at the core of every powerPerfector unit, effectively improved and protected the electrical infrastructure of The Lodge. The site now operates more efficiently, benefits from improved power quality and is protected against common power spikes.

Voltage Power Optimisation has improved phase balancing, reduced harmonics and optimised voltage. As a result, equipment lifetimes and reliability will also be extended, giving further savings in the future.

Voltage Power Optimisation. The less obvious benefits

Reduced maintenance, longer life
All electrical equipment has an optimum voltage at which it works best. A powerPerfected supply delivers that optimum and reduces the strain on your electrical equipment, leaving it to work more reliably and for longer.

Better quality power supply
Some things you may have accepted for years as product faults can turn out to be caused by a poor quality power supply. For instance, the life of incandescent light bulbs is almost doubled when the supply voltage is optimised. Now imagine that in relation to an IT network or an expensive piece of manufacturing equipment.

Missing the penalty kick
Power factor penalty charges – which are now uncapped in the UK – can be avoided if your power factor is above 0.95. If your power factor is at around 0.9 at the moment, powerPerfector could remove your exposure to these charges by improving the electrical efficiency of your site.

Lower harmonic distortion and reduced neutral currents
powerPerfectors are able to filter harmonics on the mains incomer. Harmonic distortion is on the increase and can lead to random failures of electronic equipment – particularly computers.

Protection
Common transients – very brief spikes in voltage from the grid – are eliminated by powerPerfector. Transients at this level can cause catastrophic damage to equipment, but smaller, more common transient events will also shorten the life expectancy of electrical equipment over time. As we move toward the Energy Gap the risk of transients increases – the Lodge is now protected