In challenging economic times it is tempting to make quick savings by cutting staff and infrastructure. However, besides the personal distress, there is also the added ‘costs’ of redundancy settlement, loss of motivation and skills. Furthermore, cutting these resources will require re-investment when business improves. In contrast, a relatively small investment in Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) to improve motor efficiency provides real payback in substantial and sustained savings in periods of both recession and growth. This information comes from GAMBICA, the Trade Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation and Laboratory Technology in the UK.
British industry and commerce can add £4.5 billion a year to its bottom line, a significant 3% improvement on profits, by implementing a single, simple energy saving measure; fitting variable speed drives to its electric motors.
Whilst managers in UK industry are aware of the scale of rises in electricity prices and the environmental consequences of its excessive use, there is limited knowledge of how electricity costs can be effectively reduced.
Electric motors consume huge amounts of electricity; about two-thirds of all industrial energy use. Even a simple electric motor, costing a few hundred pounds, can be expected to consume many tens of thousands of pounds worth of electricity over its useful lifetime.
Most power in electric motor use is consumed in powering fans, pumps and compressors. Such devices can be found in air conditioning & ventilation systems, boilers and compressors, which are located in most commercial and many domestic buildings, as well as in heavy industrial plants. Using a variable speed drive allows the speed of these motors to be accurately controlled and optimised for the application, resulting in typical efficiency improvements of 30%.
It may seem surprising that a relatively small percentage of potential users of VSDs in energy saving applications have actually implemented the technology. Modern VSDs are widely available, proven devices that have never been easier or quicker to install with the latest models using automatic tuning and setup features.
Unlike almost every other energy saving initiative, the installation of variable speed motor controls delivers 100% return on capital employed (RoCE) and moreover, because of the rising costs of energy and the stable prices of the technology, the return on investment (RoI) is generally delivered in less than one year.
A further incentive is that, when installed in variable torque applications, variable speed drives qualify for tax relief in the form of enhanced capital allowances (ECA) from HM Revenue & Customs. This means that the full capital costs of equipment and its installation can be offset against income tax in year one.
The use of variable speed drives is therefore one of the most easily implemented and cost effective ways to achieve carbon reduction to meet the obligations under the Carbon Reduction Commitment.
Steven Brambley of GAMBICA commented: “The Government and the institutional energy efficiency bodies have a responsibility to promote and encourage users of electric motors to control them efficiently. In these times of rising commodity costs and social awareness, there is also an opportunity for business leader’s to take advantage of the financial incentive by scrutinizing the real cost centres of their own organisations. They should identify their electric motor content and potential cost savings, identify and appoint a person responsible for them and challenge these people to ensure that all available opportunities for energy efficiency are utilised and maximised.
“The consequences of climate change will affect us all. Promoting your business as an active player in applying energy saving methods, by utilising easily available technology, gives real credibility to your green credentials and commitment to future sustainability. Take up the challenge to improve your bottom line as well as the planet!”
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Editor’s note: GAMBICA’s variable speed drives group membership includes countless notable engineers, scientists and expert spokespersons that are willing to provide journalists with impartial evidence, opinion and statistics relating to energy usage and efficiency in UK and global industry, commerce and buildings.
Electronic copy: Get an electronic copy of this release by mail http://www.blogger.com/Campaign%20planning/richards@stonejunction.co.uk or download from http://www.gambica-pr.blogspot.com/
For further information contact: Steve Brambley, Deputy Director
Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation & Laboratory Technology (GAMBICA), Broadwall House, 21 Broadwall, London SE1 9PL
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7642 8080
Fax: +44 (0)20 7642 8096
e-mail: sbrambley@gambica.org.uk
www: http://www.gambica.org.uk/
Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/
About GAMBICA: GAMBICA is the Trade Association for Instrumentation, Control, Automation and Laboratory Technology in the UK. It has a membership of over 200 companies including the major multinationals in the sector and a significant number of smaller and medium sized companies.
Ref: GAM002/08/09
