Manage Buildings Power Consumption with New Power Controller

Phil Black - PII Editor 03/11/2014

55 2 minutes read

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Optimising power consumption with intelligent software that disconnects non-priority loads

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, is helping commercial and industrial buildings optimise power consumption with the Emax 2 Ekip Power Controller load management software. It is an exclusive option of the new Emax 2, a smart low voltage air circuit breaker that has been recognised by the LEED© (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system for green buildings.

To manage energy consumption, the Emax 2 Ekip Power Controller switches electricity supply off to non-essential equipment and back on again as soon as acceptable power levels are reached. Intelligent decision-making is achieved with software that uses complex algorithms to decide when it is appropriate to switch the power, while maintaining the overall functionality or productivity of the connected equipment.

Rob McCaskie, ABB’s Product Manager for power circuit breakers in the UK said: “Buildings can take advantage of intelligent load reduction – especially during peak times – when power demand can result in excessive fees or even blackouts. We have developed a tool for potential customers to establish the savings this technology can deliver – our Emax 2 Ekip Power Controller calculator.

“Replacing existing traditional breakers with the Emax 2 has the potential to achieve annual savings of 5.8 million megawatt-hours (MWh). This is the equivalent electric consumption of 1.4 million European households per year.”

The ABB Low Voltage Products’ new technical centre in Bergamo, Italy, is already reaping the benefits from the Emax 2 Ekip Power Controller. The new building, which is equipped with advanced automation technology systems, is able to reduce power consumption during high-demand hours with ABB’s Emax 2 Ekip Power Controller. This saves costs and optimises the overall operation of the electrical system. Embedded in the Emax 2 breaker, the Ekip Power Controller intelligently limits the 400 kW of HVAC loads, which is equivalent to the power usage of more than 100 apartments. As a result, utility costs are significant lowered and estimated to save the company £8,700 (11,000 Euros) annually.

Another example is the Vilinius University in Lithuania, who decided to take advantage of ABB’s Ekip Power Controller for their new Life Sciences Centre, an impressive 20,000 square meter building. The developers chose the Power Controller because of its unique feature to control the maximum electrical loads consumed and automatically shut off non-essential equipment if needed. This is a critical function for the university as high consumption during peak hours is restricted by the public utility and could cause unexpected power disconnections.

Savings with the Emax 2 Ekip Power Controller can be estimated using the online Power Controller Calculator and more in-depth technical information can be found in the Emax 2 portal.