Energy-saving regulators

March 2008 Electrical Power & Protection

Denver Technical Products in conjunction with Claude Lyons of the UK, now offer energy-saving regulators, which are topical products at the moment, in view of the electricity crisis in South Africa.

Electrical equipment is designed to accept a wide range of input voltages about its nominal design centre. However, if the actual supply is higher than necessary the equipment will consume more power than needed and in many cases, equipment life is reduced, effectively increasing the cost of ownership. A 230 V linear appliance operated at 240 V will consume approximately 9% more energy than necessary.

A voltage reduction within statutory limits, of up to 12,5%, can produce up to 25% (subject to load) reduction in energy consumption and in addition will extend the life of many types of electrical apparatus.

The reduction of the supply voltage to a controlled level, allows equipment to operate at optimum efficiency, thus lowering power consumption and overall running costs.

The Power Save has advantages over fixed ratio transformers, by providing additional energy savings through greater voltage reduction and more importantly, phase voltage balance and regulated output voltages. Increasing demand is expected to affect the stability of the supply and price increases are forecast. Both factors will make Power Save a solution that accommodates future deterioration by ensuring a safe and regulated supply, achieving savings and reduced carbon emissions from power stations.

Further reading:

Overcoming the bottling industry’s fragmented visibility
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing Electrical Power & Protection
Beverage bottling facilities are among manufacturing’s most energy-intensive environments, yet many still operate without granular insight into where that energy goes. Rezolia Muller-Potluri of Schneider Electric explains how tiered metering architecture and advanced

Read more...

---

Schneider Electric introduces next-generation BlokSeT switchboard
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has launched its next-generation BlokSeT low-voltage switchboard in West Africa, offering high reliability, predictive maintenance capability and digital integration for critical infrastructure and industrial applications.

Read more...

---

Powering South Africa’s renewable energy expansion
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM Distribution Transformers, the sole NECRT contract holder for Eskom, is powering South Africa’s renewable energy expansion through robust neutral earthing transformer solutions deployed across solar and wind projects in southern Africa.

Read more...

---

You can’t digitise a blackout
Schneider Electric South Africa Electrical Power & Protection
Across East Africa, smart meters and AI promise cleaner, more reliable power, but digital tools cannot optimise a grid too weak to carry the load. Schneider Electric’s Symphrose Ochieng sets out why operators should strengthen physical infrastructure first, then add digital capability in phases.

Read more...

---

Battery energy storage is key to powering South Africa’s manufacturing sector
Electrical Power & Protection
South Africa’s shift to renewables is creating a significant opportunity in battery energy storage, but local manufacturers face an uphill battle against cheap imports and stop-start demand. Richard van Moltke of ACTOM Static Power examines what it will take to build a sustainable local battery storage industry.

Read more...

---

Decarbonisation is reshaping mining strategy in Africa
Schneider Electric South Africa IT in Manufacturing Electrical Power & Protection
Mining companies across Africa are embedding decarbonisation into operational strategy, driven by investor, regulatory and customer pressure to reduce emissions while improving resilience.

Read more...

---

How to tell whether your mini-substation is new or refurbished
Electrical Power & Protection
Cosmetically refurbished mini-substations are being misrepresented as new equipment and sold back into the market, posing serious reliability and safety risks for mining, industrial and commercial operations. Trafo Power Solutions explains what to look for and what questions to ask before purchasing.

Read more...

---

Optimising energy reliability for African manufacturing
Electrical Power & Protection IT in Manufacturing
Unreliable power can cost African manufacturers as much as 31% in sales. Behind-the-meter power offers manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa control, visibility and resilience in their energy provisioning.

Read more...

---

Electrical solutions for FMCG manufacturing giant
Electrical Power & Protection
An electrical upgrade at a leading fast-moving consumer goods facility demonstrates how ACTOM Kenya turned a fragile, reactive power infrastructure into a resilient, data-driven backbone for production. The project is also a case study in bridging legacy equipment with modern automation without disrupting operations.

Read more...

---

Yokogawa digital plant to accelerate green hydrogen revolution
Yokogawa South Africa Editor's Choice Electrical Power & Protection IT in Manufacturing
Yokogawa explains how a digital plant approach and autonomous operations can integrate the full green hydrogen value chain, from renewable power generation to end-use applications, and why digitalisation and system integration are central to making green hydrogen viable in South Africa.

Read more...

---