WHAT IS PEAK LOPPING?

POWER YOU CAN TRUST

Maintaining Power Supply for your Generator

Peak Lopping is a mode of power control for your generator and an ideal solution for many businesses and organisations needing to secure more power than the local grid can supply alone.

The term Peak Lopping refers to the levelling out or the ‘lopping’ of peak electricity by commercial power users. Such applications are ideally suited to those needing to obtain extra power whilst reducing the amount of energy purchased from the utility companies during peak energy demand hours.

This works with the additional power source or generator used alongside the main power supply, running in synchronisation to secure more power. A Peak Lopping application is usually requested when the main suppliers of power cannot meet the extra demand needed.

Quite often a Peak Lopping generator is installed for organisations or businesses who have run out of power and require an efficient but secure electrical supply. There are many instances when a Peak Lopping generator may be used, sometimes an application of this kind may be installed when a building goes through a change of use and the electrical demand becomes higher.

For organisations with a higher energy requirement, that cannot be increased due to cost or location, a generator configured to operate in Peak Lopping mode, can be used to meet that extra demand.

Highly efficient and able to meet extra electrical demand, Peak Lopping enabled generators work alongside the grid and perform effectively to meet the needs of the power user.

How does a Peak Lopping Generator work?

Using a monitor called a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), a generator configured in Peak Lopping mode and its PLC will assess the supply of power from the mains. Once the demand starts to reach the maximum level, the generator will register the call for an increase in power and start the process of synchronisation with the mains supply.

The terms ‘Peak Lopping’ or ‘Peak Shaving’ refer to the levelling out of electricity, by reducing the amount of energy used during the peak hours of demand. By monitoring the supply of power from the mains, the generator acts according to the demand.

Once the generator starts to synchronise with the mains supply, the generator will top up the power supply to meet the peak demand. The generator will then ‘lop’ the peak and then supply the additional power. When the load decreases below the mains capacity threshold, the generator will disconnect and then shutdown.

With most business operations, there may be a proportion of the day, or at weekends, when the existing power supply is sufficient without the added supply. However, the times or peaks when the demand exceeds supply, a Peak Lopping application may provide the solution. Without the extra supply, any unsupported demand could cause the power to trip and the mains power to fail.

The Benefits of Running a Generator in Peak Lopping Mode:

  • Running a generator in Peak Lopping mode proves to be a more cost-effective solution for businesses requiring extra electrical demand.
  • Peak Lopping generators can be set up to run when the mains supply unexpectedly fails. The generator’s control system disconnects from synchronising with the main supply, forcing the generator to supply the application and take over.
  • With a Peak Lopping application there is increased reliability – with fewer electrical surges comes fewer delays and interruptions to business operations.
  • Utilising Peak Lopping in busy industrial areas or where there is a less-than-adequate mains power supply, could potentially become a more viable option for some businesses.
  • The generator’s control system will continually adjust the kW output of the generator to the threshold of the grid’s kW level, seamlessly adjusting to meet demand.

In the UK, any device or generator that is connected or synchronised to the National Grid, must conform to the G99 regulatory standard. G99 configuration requires generators to support a voltage control system, which essentially controls voltage by absorbing reactive power. This is controlled and maintained by the Programmable Logic Controller.

Other factors to consider when installing a Peak Lopping generator is the size selection. In some applications it may be more efficient to run several, smaller units rather than one larger unit that may be at risk of running less-efficiently on a lighter load.

Distribution Network Operators

For organisations or businesses requiring more power, the first point of contact is your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). They should be able to assess whether additional power can be supplied and at what cost.

If the DNO are unable to provide the additional power, or if the cost associated with providing the extra power needed is more than commercially viable, then a Peak Lopping generator may provide the ideal supporting power solution.

WBPS Peak Lopping Generators

At WBPS, we will assess all your generator requirements. As well as assessing sites and analysing electrical demand, our team of highly skilled engineers will be able to assess whether a Peak Lopping power solution works for you. With all Peak Lopping application, our engineers will also ensure our generators are G99 compliant.

Not only is Peak Lopping cost-effective and an excellent way to obtain extra power, it is also one of the best ways to reduce energy consumption too.

Specialist Control Capabilities

Our specialist generator fleet for the utilities industry can be configured to offer high levels of additional resilience. Applications include generator to generator load sharing, on-load demand schemes, G99 compliant mains synchronisation and decoupling, peak lopping, dead bus synchronisation and configurable PLC software.

Depending on your specific installation, our team of engineers are on hand to offer advice and expertise for all your generator requirements. For more information about all the services we offer, get in touch with us today to find out more.

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