There is an opinion that shifting to winter time will help save electricity. Such an effect really takes place, regarding electricity consumption for lighting.
Energy market analyst Maksym Bielawski told about it in a commentary for RBC-Ukraine.
After the autumnal equinox, daylight hours get shorter, he says, and in order to extend them a little bit, the time is changed by one hour.
The analyst says that according to historical data, it is possible to save no more than 2% of electricity by turning the clocks, on the average — this is close to a statistical error, while Ukraine needs to save 20% or more.
"In this way, it will not be possible to save a lot, because electricity is mainly consumed not by street lights but by household appliances and energy-intensive enterprises," Bielawski emphasized.
At the same time, as the analyst clarifies, it is possible to save electricity for lighting without changing the clock — for this, industrial enterprises should just replace spotlights at production sites or incandescent lamps in workshops with LEDs. According to his estimates, in this case Zaporizhia enterprises alone may daily save about 5 MW.
Bielawski also notes that the greatest potential for electricity saving lies in optimisation of centralised compressor equipment (base power with adjustable drive, frequency control), which is used to supply air for process operations in workshops.
"The estimated economic effect brings reduction of annual power consumption in this category by up to 30%," he added.
In addition, the analyst explained that the effect hoped for in Soviet times cannot be achieved now, so savings should also be made through industry modernisation, changes in the working hours of industrial enterprises, and introduction of the third shift.
According to him, it makes sense to review the work schedule and rolling stock of the municipal transport.
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