Emerson Network Power’s ASCO Power Switching and Controls Business

Customer
A Large Manufacturing Company

Products/Services
ASCO Power Transfer Switch technology

Application
A large manufacturing company needed to reduce the energy costs associated with its 670,000 sq. ft. suburban facility in New Jersey while meeting its growing need for reliable power. During the summer months the greatest demand for electricity is during the afternoon; which means this is also when it is usually at its most expensive and least reliable. The facility, which experienced mid-afternoon peak demand more than three times the early morning demand, needed a solution that would enable it to use its onsite power generation during normal operation to supplement its power use during peak demand and reduce its energy costs.

The company installed at the facility ASCO power transfer switch technology from Emerson Network Power, which allowed it to peak shave by reliably transferring some of its base loads to its onsite power generators. ASCO Power Transfer Switches are applicable in many environments, ranging from residential, agricultural and light commercial applications to the critical power needs of healthcare, financial and data center facilities. They are available in bypass-isolation configurations to allow testing of the switch without interrupting power to the load.

Prepared For Smart Grid
ASCO power transfer switch technology helped the facility to satisfy its needle peak summer demand with 500 kW of capacity from its onsite standby generation system. Over the course of one recent year, using the standby system for peak shaving netted the facility owner in excess of $35,000.

Because the development of a Smart Grid will allow for the incorporation of onsite power generation – from both traditional and alternate sources – facilities with traditional generator plants will be able to use them to power the facility during times when energy costs are at their peak, or even feed energy back to the grid in exchange for financial compensation. The availability of real-time cost information will drive this change. All facilities that have their own power sources will be empowered to make make-buy decisions based on up-to-the-minute electricity prices.