Kevin Grün
November 26, 2024
Energy consumption costs are constantly rising, and companies are searching for ways to reduce them. One innovative solution that provides relief is reactive power compensation. Particularly with the ESO (Electronic Power Optimization) system, significant savings can be achieved, not only reducing energy costs but also improving grid stability. In this blog post, we will explore what reactive power is, why it is crucial for businesses, and how the ESO system can help cut energy costs.
Reactive power is a phenomenon that occurs in electrical systems, especially in systems operating inductive loads such as electric motors or transformers. This "useless" power is needed to establish electric fields within devices, but it is not converted into actual work. While reactive power does not represent directly usable energy, it does place a burden on the grid infrastructure and increases overall electricity costs.
If reactive power is not adequately compensated, electrical equipment such as switches, fuses, and transformers must be designed to handle the sum of active and reactive power. This leads to greater material requirements, higher operating costs, and increased power losses within the grid.
According to a study by the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI), reducing reactive power content can relieve electrical equipment and improve voltage quality within the grid. By implementing intelligent reactive power management, voltage stability can be supported, and transmission losses can be reduced.
Bernhard Wendlandt, an engineer for energy and storage systems at TOPENERGIESYSTEME, comments:
"Reducing reactive power content has a positive effect on electricity cost balance. Reactive power management, especially in operations that have switched to variable-speed drives, is therefore advantageous for cost reasons. In fact, there is a significant need in every business and household to reduce grid voltage interference components such as reactive power, harmonics, and voltage spikes, which drive up electricity costs and damage equipment, reducing their lifespan."
With the ESO system, businesses can reduce up to 90% of their reactive power, depending on the current grid situation. This results in significant savings in electricity costs as line losses are reduced, and electrical equipment is relieved. ESO combines the functions of inductive reactive power compensation with the reduction of harmonics and voltage spikes, contributing further to optimizing grid quality.
The ESO system integrates reactive power compensation and harmonic filtering in a compact device. These functions help reduce energy costs by up to 10% or more in businesses.
Innovative reactive power management not only helps reduce energy costs but also supports voltage quality within the grid. Compensation systems like ESO dampen harmonics and voltage spikes caused by increased use of power electronics in modern production facilities. This extends the lifespan of devices, leading to further long-term savings.
As shown in the ZVEI study, combining reactive power compensation with grid-dependent control can significantly improve grid stability. Especially during low-load times when the grid becomes capacitive, dynamic compensation helps maintain voltage quality and reduce operating costs.
Traditional compensation systems often operate rigidly and cannot respond to short-term changes in the grid. This is where ESO's dynamic reactive power compensation comes into play. ESO's innovative microelectronic control technology automatically adjusts the compensation level to the current grid situation. This means that only as much reactive power as needed is compensated at any given time. This flexibility makes ESO a highly efficient solution for reducing operating costs and improving grid stability.
The ESO system is particularly suitable for manufacturing facilities, agricultural operations, hotels, restaurants, as well as gas stations and car washes. Manufacturing facilities benefit from the reduction of reactive power and harmonics, making their equipment more efficient and reducing operating costs. In agriculture, large pumps and biogas plants can be optimized with ESO, leading to lower energy costs. Gas stations and car washes also benefit by reducing energy consumption from pumps and washing systems. For more information, visit: Case Studies and Industries
The average savings potential by using the ESO system is up to 12% of a business's total energy consumption. This not only means an immediate reduction in energy costs but also long-term economic benefits through extended equipment life and reduced grid disturbances.
The investment in a dynamic reactive power compensation system like ESO typically pays off within two to three years. Increased efficiency, lower operating costs, and longer equipment life lead to a rapid return on investment.
ESO's dynamic reactive power compensation provides a comprehensive solution for reducing energy costs and improving grid stability. By flexibly adapting to grid requirements and effectively filtering harmonics, businesses can not only reduce energy costs but also enhance the operational safety of their systems. An investment that definitely pays off.
