ABB helps identify opportunities for variable-speed drives
To help those affected by the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme achieve significant reductions in energy use and, hence, carbon emissions, ABB has developed a 6-step plan aimed at identifying pumps and fans that could benefit from variable-speed control. Variable-speed drives are used to regulate the speed of the electric motor driving a fan or pumps. Reductions of up to 60% in electrical consumption are possible, with paybacks as short as six months.
Steve Ruddell of ABB says, ‘While organisations may sit back believing they have sufficient time before action is needed, the Government has rather cunningly introduced a few incentives of its own to motivate action now.’
One example is league tables outlining the best and worst performances in terms of carbon emissions and reduction. Revenues generated by the sale of carbon credits will be returned to participants, with penalties for those lower in the league tables.
To help companies win a favourable place in the league table, ABB has identified several applications in buildings that can immediately benefit from variable-speed drives. They include liquid cooler fans, condenser water pumps, chiller compressors, chilled-water pumps, supply fans and return fans.
