With the global rise in electricity prices, the energy costs of compressed air have increased to as much as 91 per cent of the total cost of ownership, and operators need to urgently review the efficiency of their system says Graham Read, Product Manager Industrial Compressors Europe at CompAir.
For many years, the industry has used a formula to calculate compressed air cost of ownership, comprising capital investment and installation at 10 per cent, maintenance at approximately 8 per cent and energy costs making up the largest proportion at 82 percent.
This breakdown has served many customers well, enabling them to make informed choices about how to lower running costs. This is especially the case when considering the cost of capital equipment and the potential payback that can be achieved by investing in an energy-efficient machine.
However, customers now need to re-evaluate the way that they assess their compressed air energy costs as Graham explains.