Westminster Abbey has been the coronation church since the Battle of Hastings, is the final resting place of 17 monarchs and has played host to 16 royal weddings. Oliver Cromwell, Isaac Newton, Geoffrey Chaucer and Charles Darwin are all buried there.

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its special cultural significance and was the UK’s top paid for visitor attraction in 2009.

The installation of two powerPerfector units at the Abbey ensures that the supply is more efficient and secure. It will cut bills by over 12%, saving approximately £8,400 a year. Carbon emissions are reduced by over 50 tonnes every year.

Aside from the energy savings, VPO® also provides power conditioning benefits in the form of a reduction in harmonic distortion, transients and three phase imbalance.

powerPerfector Voltage Power Optimisation units were installed on the incoming supply for the Blowing Chamber, which circulates air around the Abbey and the Floodlighting Cabinet which, as the name suggests, keeps the Abbey illuminated at night.

The types of electrical loads at the Abbey are well suited to VPO®. We see good savings from most lighting, air conditioning and chiller loads, whilst the long operational hours increase the level of savings.

As part of the installation, one of the units required a customised enclosure (6cm smaller than standard) in order for the unit to fit underneath the existing trunking.

The installation in the Blowing Chamber required a delivery down 14 stairs just 70cm wide. We worked with a specialist logistics company, who used an A-Frame and hoist to deliver the powerPerfector in individual component parts. The unit was delivered, reassembled and positioned in the chamber without incident.

The installation of powerPerfector at the Nottingham Belfry has reduced electricity consumption by 11.6%. This level of reduction equates to an annual carbon dioxide emissions saving of 100.2 tonnes and an annual financial saving of £15,700.