Power Factor Correction Study
Determination of how much reactive compensation a site needs, where to put it and how to switch it — driven by the tariff structure as much as by the engineering, since the financial case depends on whether the utility penalises power factor, reactive energy or peak kVA.
What this study establishes.
Power factor profile across the billing period from metering data.
Tariff analysis identifying exactly what is being charged and what correction would avoid.
Compensation sizing to the target, with step configuration for varying load.
Placement analysis — central at the incomer, at group boards, or individual at large motors.
Resonance check with the site harmonic spectrum, and detuning where required.
Payback assessment against the specific tariff, with the assumptions made explicit.
What the work covers.
Determination of how much reactive compensation a site needs, where to put it and how to switch it — driven by the tariff structure as much as by the engineering, since the financial case depends on whether the utility penalises power factor, reactive energy or peak kVA.
Correcting to unity is rarely the economic optimum and can be actively harmful. Over-correction at light load leads to leading power factor, which some tariffs also penalise and which can raise voltage above the permitted band on lightly loaded feeders.
What lands in your inbox.
Power factor profile across the billing period
Power factor profile across the billing period from metering data.
Tariff analysis identifying exactly what is being
Tariff analysis identifying exactly what is being charged and what correction would avoid.
Compensation sizing to the target,
Compensation sizing to the target, with step configuration for varying load.
Placement analysis
Placement analysis — central at the incomer, at group boards, or individual at large motors.
Resonance check
Resonance check with the site harmonic spectrum, and detuning where required.
Payback assessment against the specific tariff,
Payback assessment against the specific tariff, with the assumptions made explicit.
How we run it.
Scope & data capture
We confirm the question the study must answer, agree the measurement or modelling points, and collect what the work depends on: twelve months of billing data showing the reactive or power factor charge; metered kw and kvar profile at the point of measurement; harmonic spectrum, without which the resonance check cannot be done.
Measurement & modelling
Engineers carry out the measurement and modelling on site and in software, under operating conditions representative of the problem rather than a single convenient snapshot.
Analysis against standard
Results are assessed against IEEE 1036, IEC 61921, IEC 60831-1, with the assessment basis and any measurement uncertainty stated rather than implied.
Report & recommendations
You receive a signed engineering report with findings ranked by consequence, the reasoning behind each conclusion, and mitigation options costed so they can be acted on or deferred deliberately.
Assessed against the published limits.
Common questions.
Typically in one of these situations: reactive power or low power factor charges appearing on the utility bill; utility has set a minimum power factor as a connection condition; released capacity is needed and reactive current is consuming it. If none of these apply, the study is unlikely to be the right next step and we will say so.
To scope and run the work we need twelve months of billing data showing the reactive or power factor charge; metered kw and kvar profile at the point of measurement; harmonic spectrum, without which the resonance check cannot be done. Where any of it is missing we can establish it on site, which changes the scope rather than blocking the work.
Primarily IEEE 1036, IEC 61921, IEC 60831-1, IEC 61642. The applicable framework depends on your connection agreement and jurisdiction, so we confirm which applies before measurement rather than after.
Ready to start the engagement?
Tell us about your site and the problem you are seeing. We come back with a fixed scope, a fixed fee, and a named lead engineer.