The expected final result will be a voltage stabiliser developed to technology readiness level 7. Our technology innovations allow us to use smaller, lower power rated electronic switching components with lower production costs, smaller size and reduced losses. Another key aspect of Finnese is our unique capacity to both Buck and Boost the power supply by as much as 50 volts. This has become increasingly important due to the development of renewable energy resources, which offer variability of renewable generation and are also located far from population centres. Additionally there is less heat dissipation, higher efficiency, smaller footprint, zero maintenance and lower total harmonic distortion (THD). The impact and benefit on the customer is the following:
• A buck/boost system capable of delivering maximum, quantifiable repeatable energy savings
• Step-less output voltage adjustment with high reliability, availability, low downtime and zero maintenance
• A capital payback of between 18 months and 3 years depending on supply voltage, load and installation
• A small system footprint to ease retrofit into existing electrical switch-rooms.
FINESSE offers the potential for significant economic impact. Reducing electricity bills by 8-20% (compared to 4-12% for a fixed ratio unit).Our unit will also increase the reliability and life of electrical equipment due to fewer voltage transients, electromagnetic shock, and less heat dissipation. There will thus also be a reduction in maintenance and replacement costs. For large non-domestic electricity users the price per kWh in Q4 2013 was approximately €0.1116 therefore a site that uses €620,000 of electricity equates to 5.55 GWh p.a. For such a demand, a 1MVA unit would be recommended, with a €72,000 total installed cost, (€56,000 unit, plus €16,000 installation and commissioning costs). Since the unit would not be used with all loads, we would conservatively expect an 11% saving, i.e. approx. €68,200 per annum. This would provide a payback period of 13 months. Over a 20 year service life our customer would save €1.36 million. Cumulatively over a 5 year post project period based on sales of 1338 units the savings in electricity cost would be €228m.
On average, most sites will benefit from a saving of 8-12% and this will yield a payback period of between 14-20 months. In relation to CO2 emissions, we would estimate a reduction of 272,270 tons over five years. Clearly savings depend on the voltage dependent load and the incoming voltage level. Our product will also improve the green credentials of our clients in terms of corporate social responsibility and mitigate against the potential for additional costs due to (for example) the UK CRC scheme where an additional 10% is levied on electricity bills.
