The reactive energy is the extra demand of electrical energy that some devices need to create magnetic and electric fields necessary for its operation, such as all the equipment with coil, machinery motors, transformers, fluorescents and pumps. Most industrial loads produce this type of energy in conjunction with Active Energy Ontario and this causes the total energy requested to the electrical network to increase and is finally reflected in the electricity bill as an additional cost.
We speak of additional cost because the reactive energy differs from the Active Energy Ontario in several aspects:
- The active energy is transformed entirely in work or in heat; the reactive is not consumed or used to heat.
- The reactive energy is associated only to those devices that require a coil powered by alternating current (the intensity changes direction of circulation, it goes and comes from our consumption to the network 50 times per second).
- The active energy is measured in kWh, the reactive energy in kVArh (kilovolt-ampere reactive hour).
- Excessive consumption of reactive energy is penalized with surcharges on the electricity bill according to current legislation.
Then one may ask: If the reactive energy is not consumed or produces useful work, why do we pay for it? We are going to answer this question analyzing the effects of it both at a technical and economic level.
Effects of reactive Energy:
While it is true that reactive energy does not have to be produced, it must be transported, since as we have said before, it goes back and forth from our consumption to the grid 50 times per second. This work translates into an increase in electricity demand with the following effects:
- Loss of useful power of the facilities and lower performance thereof.
- Voltage drops, cable heating.
- More recharged transformers.
- Perturbations in the electrical network.
- Overload in the transformation and generation lines.
This means that the electricity distribution companies for companies that need to use reactive energy, have to have a greater distribution capacity, make a greater investment to optimize the electrical installations and have costs that are finally transferred to the electricity bill. You can compare the plans and offerings with help of Electricity Monster to choose the best provider.
So if you want to avoid that your light costs rise like foam and your goal is to achieve energy savings, we recommend opting for compensation of reactive energy. Here we tell you all its advantages.
Advantages of reactive energy compensation:
Compensating reactive energy helps your company obtain economic and technical advantages. Between them:
- Increase the capacity of installed lines and transformers.
- Improve the tension of the network.
- Decrease energy losses.
- Achieve a reduction in the global cost of energy
To achieve this, it is necessary to use equipment designed to neutralize reactive energy, such as capacitor banks. These devices facilitate the stabilization and quality of the supply, in addition to optimizing the dimensioning and the performance of the electrical installations. In this way, the reactive energy demanded by the power supply network decreases and energy efficiency improves.
