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Acer's Smart Frequency provides energy saving solution to help factories reduce electricity costs

Aaron Lee, Taipei; Jack Wu, DIGITIMES Asia 0

Credit: DIGITIMES

Smart Frequency, a subsidiary of Acer Group, unveiled its energy-saving solution at the Smart City Summit & Expo (SCSE).

With the Ministry of Economic Affairs increasing electricity prices by an average of 11% in April, it spurred a demand increase for energy-saving solutions among businesses. Company chairman Chia-Chang Lin pointed out that said solution can save 10-15% of power consumption without sacrificing performance, and several clients have already expressed interest as energy saving is a rigid demand for corporations.

Acer chairman and CEO Jason Chen acknowledged that an electricity price hike would be felt by businesses and stressed that energy-saving measures will be rigid demand. Lin pointed out that by effectively reducing electrical current and voltage without compromising machinery efficiency, it not only can save costs but can also extend the machine's lifespan, making it quite attractive for companies.

Lin explained that while there were energy-saving proposals in the past, it was often a choice between an illegal modification to meters or a device that affected operational efficiency. Smart Frequency's solution is a device that eliminates unstable electrical currents in the power supply, thus reducing the volume. Since the equipment didn't use these unstable currents, it can save power while not affecting operational efficiency.

Currently undergoing testing, the solution is expected to be launched in the second half of the year, with significant interest already shown by several clients. Lin cited the example of a refrigeration factory in central Taiwan, which reduced its monthly electricity bill from over NT$500,000 (approx. US$15,700) to just over NT$300,000 (approx. US$9420).

Lin mentioned that the current testing indicates energy savings of around 10-15%. Better results would require more equipment with energy-efficient designs and integrating solar and energy storage devices. Therefore, post-sales consultancy services are needed to customize the solutions to clients' needs.

Lin, who also serves as the GM of Weblink, mentioned that Weblink will handle the sales of Smart Frequency's energy-saving systems. He mentioned that Smart Frequency has also launched energy storage products and expressed optimism about the business opportunities of ESG.