As September draws to a close, we’re reflecting on a busy month for Olympus Power, including our Founder and CEO, Simon Nicholls, taking to the stage at Ideas Fest 2026.
Held at Champneys Tring on 9th – 10th of September, Ideas Fest brought together more than 6,000 entrepreneurs, founders and business leaders for two days of conversations around business growth, innovation and the challenges facing UK organisations. The programme featured more than 500 talks and sessions across 17 zones, stages and gathering spaces.
For Simon, it was another opportunity to bring energy into the wider business conversation.
Because while businesses are continually looking for ways to improve productivity, reduce overheads and invest in growth, there can be significant savings hiding much closer to home.
Is Your Business Using More Voltage Than It Actually Needs?
Many commercial and industrial sites receive electricity at a higher voltage than their equipment requires.
That excess voltage can contribute to unnecessary electricity consumption, increased stress on electrical equipment and avoidable operating costs.
For energy-intensive organisations with machinery, refrigeration, motors, lighting, HVAC systems and other electrical equipment operating for long periods, those inefficiencies can quickly add up.
One technology designed to address this is Voltage Optimisation (VO).
What Is Voltage Optimisation?
Voltage Optimisation is an energy-saving technology that manages the voltage supplied to electrical equipment, reducing it to a more appropriate level for the requirements of the site.
Rather than generating electricity, VO focuses on helping a business use the electricity it already purchases more efficiently.
Following an assessment of a site’s incoming voltage, electricity consumption and electrical infrastructure, a suitable system can be designed to optimise the voltage supplied across the site.
For the right organisation, this can support:
- Reduced electricity consumption
- Lower energy costs
- Reduced unnecessary electrical stress on suitable equipment
- Improved overall energy efficiency
- Progress towards wider carbon-reduction objectives
Crucially, Voltage Optimisation isn’t suitable for every business or every site. Understanding the site’s voltage profile and electrical load is essential before determining whether there is a viable commercial opportunity.
Which Businesses Could Benefit From Voltage Optimisation?
VO can be particularly relevant to organisations operating energy-intensive commercial and industrial sites, especially where electrical equipment runs for long periods or forms a significant part of operating costs.
This can include:
Manufacturing
Factories and production environments operating motors, machinery, processing equipment, lighting and other electrical loads.
Cold Chain and Refrigeration
Cold stores, food production facilities and temperature-controlled environments where refrigeration and associated equipment can operate around the clock.
Warehousing and Logistics
Large distribution centres and logistics facilities with substantial lighting, automation, HVAC and electrical infrastructure.
Retail
Supermarkets, large-format retail environments and multi-site operators with refrigeration, lighting and other continuous electrical demand.
Hospitality
Hotels and larger hospitality venues operating kitchens, HVAC, lighting and other electrical equipment throughout the day.
Commercial Buildings
Offices and other larger commercial properties where the site’s electrical profile presents an opportunity for optimisation.
The important question isn’t simply “Can we install Voltage Optimisation?”
It’s “Would Voltage Optimisation deliver a worthwhile saving for this particular site?”
That’s where the assessment comes in.
From Business Conversations to Practical Energy Solutions
Events such as Ideas Fest provide an important opportunity to speak directly with the people running and growing UK businesses.
Energy may not always be the first item on the growth agenda, but reducing unnecessary consumption can release money that would otherwise simply disappear into operating costs.
At Olympus Power, our role as an Energy Concierge is to help organisations understand where those opportunities exist and which technologies make commercial sense for their individual sites.
That could involve solar PV, battery energy storage, energy procurement, EV charging or Voltage Optimisation.
The solution starts with understanding the problem.
Could Your Business Be Paying for Voltage It Doesn’t Need?
If you operate an energy-intensive site across manufacturing, cold chain, logistics, retail, hospitality or the wider commercial sector, there may be an opportunity to reduce unnecessary electricity consumption through Voltage Optimisation.
Olympus Power can assess your site’s energy and voltage profile to determine whether VO is suitable and identify the potential commercial case before you commit to a project.
Find out whether Voltage Optimisation could reduce your business’s energy costs.
Speak to the Olympus Power team today.