Press Room

ASDA tries Alldales' energy-saving inverter drives

A community retailer and large-scale energy user, ASDA pursues rigorous policies aimed at conserving consumption and minimising waste.  As part of a continuous research and investment programme, ASDA are to trial inverter drives from Alldales Drive Systems in selected stores nationwide. Alldales inverter drives, designed especially for HVAC use, will be fitted initially to air handling units in 13 stores.

For Ken Carter, Energy Manager for ASDA, the trial is a long awaited development:

"A significant proportion of the energy consumed in-store is accounted for by air handling units and associated plant. As well as the environmental considerations, we are facing increases of 25% in electricity supply during the coming year. With energy spend by the Group approaching £80 million, this represents a considerable hike in running costs. Inverter drives offer the potential to reduce our expenditure and to plan ahead."

Inverter drive technology offers potentially huge savings to organisations like ASDA with precise operating requirements. Inverter drives deliver energy efficiencies by regulating motor speed to maintain the desired temperature levels.

Power is significantly reduced by reducing the pressure and flow to devices such as fan which are governed by centrifugal affinity laws. Any reduction in load results in a threefold decrease in power input.  Reducing motor speed by just 20% for example could literally halve energy consumption.

In addition, the drives offer the potential to be linked with building systems, providing immediate feedback in the form of precise data on performance to facilitate forward planning.

Projected energy savings following installation of the inverter drives show an estimated payback on the initial investment within 7 months. If successful, the pilot project may be extended to other stores within the Group.

Released December 2004

< back

 



"As well as the environmental considerations, we are facing increases of 25% in electricity supply during the coming year. With energy spend by the Group approaching £80 million, this represents a considerable hike in running costs. Inverter drives offer the potential to reduce our expenditure and to plan ahead."

 

About Alldales | Drive Systems | Consultancy Services | Contact Us | Press Room | Home