University works with Schneider Electric to modernise infrastructure

Leeds Beckett University is situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire with campuses in the city centre and the suburb of Headingley.  

The University have almost 30,000 students and 3,000 staff. The Headingley Campus comprises of 64 buildings (116,320.38 Sq m) and the City Campus comprises of 31 buildings (88,421.17 Sq m).

The university has a long-standing and successful relationship with Schneider Electric and has used the company for various solutions throughout its electrical infrastructure, primarily the low voltage (LV) distribution metering. This new project forms the next evolution in the relationship.  

All projects have the same overriding objective: to modernise the University’s systems to bring them in line with present standards, and in doing so, make energy usage more cost effective and sustainable. A key aspect of this is intelligence, which is especially important for a large-scale institution like a university, as the benefits of intelligent infrastructure tend to scale exponentially with size.

Leeds Beckett University chose to install the Schneider Electric IFE Interface for LV circuit breakers, Compact NSX-E, BSCM. This solution was chosen as there was an increasing need to improve the monitoring of power supply and usage, and it offered greater flexibility and functionality over panel meters.  

The University as a whole needs to be more accountable for power consumption, as the estates department are always looking to find ways to drive down usage wherever possible. The Schneider Electric interface provided the raw data to enable decisions as to where and how power consumption could be cut by giving greater visibility into how the building was performing. As the product uses industry standard protocols and is Tested, Documented and Validated Architecture (TVDA), the electrical team knew that it could trust the integrity of data and quality of the product and installation.  

Another important function of the solution is that it has made maintenance of the existing infrastructure easier and more effective. The interface made it simple to monitor breaker status and wear and tear, allowing the team to spot problems in the system before they could escalate and cause damage. Components could be changed straight away, preventing any breakdowns and systems outages. While the sustainability benefits are longer term, as they are dependent on on-going analysis of data, the maintenance benefits have been instantaneous. Generally speaking, the team has much more confidence over the system’s integrity, and they are looking forward to rolling out the interface into other buildings when the opportunity arises.

Schneider Electric’s technical team supported the whole process, so that the installation and commissioning was completed with limited disruption to the client.  They also helped with the interface between the client, contactor and even selecting the components for the final installation. This is a relatively new solution so all parties needed a smooth transition. The support team were then involved in a training day which included viewing the clients commissioned system.

Initially, the solution has been deployed in one building as part of a wider refurbishment plan. The University’s electrical engineers are always consulted whenever new buildings are refurbished and the Schneider Electric Solution will be recommended wherever it can be incorporated. This will be especially beneficial as any energy and cost savings will be amplified each time the solution is installed.  

Leeds Beckett University are always looking to embrace new technologies, especially when they provide an insight into the electrical distribution and operational integrity, also helping to regulate power consumption whilst deliver sustainability and cost benefits. Schneider Electric is one of their key partners in this drive to modernise the University’s infrastructure and invest in intelligent buildings and create a truly smart estate that provides real benefit to both staff and students.