Navigating 2024- The Critical State of our Power Grid
Why 2023 Marked A Turning Point in Power Quality Awareness for Businesses
The year 2023 will be remembered as a turning point for power quality. We are definitely seeing an increase in the number of power quality problems, which is costing businesses more money and productivity. Just recently, I was called in to resolve issues at several public sector entities that were hit hard by power quality issues. We’re talking about important governmental infrastructure, ranging from transportation and education, to health care delivery. Deteriorating or dirty power is reaching into all facets of our economy and public services, indicating a crucial need for immediate attention and action.
The changes to the grid that cause these problems are subtle, but will only worsen as governments cancel gas plants, which have traditionally joined with nuclear power to provide a steady flow of quality, dependable electricity. Look for this to become an issue as we enter 2024. Also, as more businesses modernize and upgrade equipment, they experience costly incidents. The decreasing quality within the power grid is falling behind the needs of newer, equipment that form the backbone of our manufacturing and production facilities.
On the positive side, awareness about power quality is growing. Astute general contractors, supervisors, operations managers, and other key personnel are recognizing the need for power quality metering and data that provide them with dependable, long term solutions. It’s a front-end investment with an ROI that is tangible. Ask yourself: what’s the cost of not investing? Often, it’s a total shut-down of operations making the short term costs far less expensive than the long term damages.
In the meantime, keep your eye on these trends and factors:
* Increased sensitivity of equipment
* Harmonics mitigation
* Use of power quality analyzers
* Smart grid technologies
* Integration of renewable energy sources
* Focus on energy efficiency
For 2024, we need to question how power quality is impacting energy models. The conversation should involve all stakeholders, from businesses and local utilities, to general contractors and even governments. There are answers and there are solutions, but they’re only found through proper analytics and customized plans. As we’ve seen time and time again in 2023, it all starts with asking questions, and then making the right call.
Encompass Power Solutions understands the complexities of power quality issues and provides tailored solutions to handle even the most challenging scenarios. With our deep expertise, we are equipped to address a wide range of electrical disruptions, ensuring your operations are efficient and uninterrupted. Trust Encompass Power to be your partner in navigating and resolving power quality