Recent evidence of micro-renewable technologies not working as efficiently as their hype, makes the proven power correction techniques offer more for industries to reduce their energy consumption. CLM managing director Paul Caddick explains
Comprehensive refinements to the existing energy consumption of most major production plants should prove to reduce their long-term energy use and expenditure more directly, and therefore reduce their carbon footprint more cost-effectively with the benefit of reducing machinery maintenance.
The performance results for wind turbines appear to so far only cover housing applications. Despite claims wind turbines can provide 30% of just a single house's energy needs, research consultant engineers Encraft reveals on average, the real percentage is actually only three according to national newspapers in January (Telegraph and The Guardian - 13 Jan).
This is only enough power to run less than four low-energy light bulbs for a day.
In comparison for industry, power-factor correction can immediately shave at least 11% off an otherwise-normally billed net £11,795 site per month, as calculated in the table 1 example below.
Encraft's research funded by the British Wind Energy Association and the government, more embarrassingly reveals that the worst-performing micro-renewable turbine installation's payback was a disappointing 40 years. This was in terms of the wind turbine's ability to generate ‘clean' electricity equivalent, compared to that needed for its own manufacture.
Amid this evidence, DIY chain B&Q withdrew wind turbines from sale in February following its own customer feedback.
An industrial-scale wind turbine's carbon footprint is greater than some experts would have us believe. To erect just a single 1MW turbine is known to require approximately 100 tonnes of concrete foundations deposited into the ground, which is unlikely to be removed at the end of the lifespan.
Therefore both the environmental and financial cost of wind turbines cannot be ignored. The merits of the other high profile micro-renewable, known as PV (photovoltaic), also have to be questioned.
A study by Davis Langdon Mott Green Wall based on market conditions up to 2006 before more energy price hikes hit British industry, has already revealed the economic payback of a major PV installation to also be a staggering 40 years.
It is over a year since the first major study on PV, wind and CHP (combined heat and power) found that the systems only generate less than a tenth (8.8%) of their potential capacity. This major study from two years of research among 133 sites was carried out by the British Electrothechnical and Allied Manufacturers' Association.
This is why CLM has immediately compared the economic and carbon payback times claimed by the micro-renewable suppliers in comparison to the proven payback of power quality reviews. A power quality survey will identify direct ways to achieve real energy savings, requiring at the most only harmonic filters, voltage regulators or power factor correction equipment - as well as provide indirect solutions to reduce machinery wear."
Harmonic filters for example in electrical systems prevent the heating effects on distribution equipment and cables, which in turn lower maintenance costs and downtime. They also reduce the carbon footprint, without the need to replace equipment more frequently. This helps compliance to G5/4-1 and therefore prevents the risk of financial penalties for infringement.
The simplicity and fast economic payback of proven power quality remedies should provide a more attractive temptation for industry as a whole to achieve a total carbon payback, instead of waiting for a few factories to risk the unproven and expensive micro-renewables.
CLM does not want to dilute all the good intentions to reduce carbon emissions, but the relentless greenwashing should be seriously questioned by industry before a widespread rush on micro-renewables, especially within the current economic climate.
Paul Caddick is the MD of CLM Group
