Tesco

Tesco Macclesfield - powerPerfected

From August 2008 to February 2009, powerPerfector's Voltage Power Optimisation units were installed at selected Tesco stores across the UK. This phased rollout continues today. As part of their commitment in tackling climate change, Tesco's have invested in the ongoing powerPerfector rollout to help reduce their carbon emissions and make low-carbon products accessible and affordable for consumers.

The challenge, the solution and the savings

All the Tesco stores have a varied electrical load which includes refrigeration, ventilation and air conditioning, lighting and a variety of electrical cooking appliances. After evaluation, we installed the powerPerfector units, ranging from pP150kVA/220A to 1500kVA/2150A, during August 2008 to February 2009. See figures 1 and 2 for a before and after comparison at Tesco Macclesfield Hibel Road.

Topline results

Half-hourly electricity consumption data from the sites’ utility meters formed the basis of this analysis. By comparing usage before and after the installation of each powerPerfector unit, savings have been demonstrated for each of the sites with an average saving of 9.9% across all 54 sites in this phase.

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, over time, also shorten the life expectancy of electrical equipment.