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Is the quality of the energy supplying your industrial plant really under control?
In recent years, many companies have started carefully monitoring their energy consumption, but far fewer regularly analyze power quality — the actual quality of the electrical energy feeding machinery, production lines, and automation systems. To address these concrete challenges, Energia Europa developed the PQ Line, a range of advanced power quality devices designed to target specific Power Quality issues in industrial facilities.
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+39 0445 510156
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Table of Contents
- The PQ Line by Energia Europa: why it was created and which problems it solves
- PQ-VAR: the first level of intervention for Power Quality
- PQ-PRO: when reactive power issues are combined with harmonics
- PQ-MAX: the advanced solution for highly sensitive electrical environments
- Why Power Quality has become critical in modern industrial plants
- From measurement to solution: the role of data in selecting the right PQ Line device
- Power Quality, energy efficiency and cost reduction
- How to choose the right PQ Line device for your facility
- Frequently Asked Questions about the PQ Line
The PQ Line by Energia Europa: why it was created and which problems it solves
The PQ Line was developed from Energia Europa’s direct field experience across a wide range of industrial plants. Over time, one key fact became clear: power quality problems are not all the same, and addressing them with a standard solution often leads to partial or ineffective results.
Some facilities mainly suffer from variable reactive power, others experience significant current imbalance, while others are affected by harmonic distortion that compromises stability and reliability. The PQ Line was specifically designed to respond to this variety of scenarios, offering different devices that progressively and precisely target the real critical issues within each plant.
PQ-VAR: the first level of intervention for Power Quality
PQ-VAR is designed for plants where the main issue is variable reactive power, often linked to dynamic loads and non-constant production cycles. Unlike traditional capacitor bank systems, PQ-VAR provides real-time compensation of both inductive and capacitive reactive power, quickly adapting to load variations.
“When analysis shows that reactive energy is the primary issue, dynamic compensation is often the most effective solution because it follows the real behavior of the plant.”
Gabriele Paltrinieri, Chief Marketing Officer of Energia Europa S.p.A.
In addition to dynamic reactive power compensation, PQ-VAR ensures precise current balancing, improving overall plant efficiency and reducing electrical losses.
PQ-PRO: when reactive power issues are combined with harmonics
In more complex industrial environments, reactive power compensation alone is not sufficient. PQ-PRO was designed for these scenarios: it combines dynamic reactive power compensation, current balancing, and harmonic mitigation up to the 13th harmonic.
This solution is ideal for facilities where Power Quality begins to directly affect machinery reliability, causing operational anomalies, overheating, and electrical stress. In such cases, addressing only reactive power means solving only part of the problem.
PQ-MAX: the advanced solution for highly sensitive electrical environments
PQ-MAX represents the most advanced level of the PQ Line and is designed for highly sensitive electrical environments. Data centers, advanced automation plants, industrial robotics, and high-precision processes require an extremely stable electrical network that is substantially immune to harmonic distortion.
PQ-MAX prioritizes harmonic compensation up to the 50th harmonic, while also integrating reactive power compensation and current balancing functions. This approach helps create a “cleaner” electrical network, reducing the risk of interference, malfunctions, and micro-interruptions.
Why Power Quality has become critical in modern industrial plants
The widespread use of inverters, variable speed drives, UPS systems, photovoltaic installations, and advanced automation has made electrical systems more efficient — but also more complex. Non-linear loads, rapid absorption changes, and harmonic distortion are now common conditions.
In this context, industrial power quality is no longer a secondary issue, but a factor that directly impacts production continuity and equipment lifespan.
Contact Energia Europa
+39 0445 510156
Contact Energia Europa via the contact form
From measurement to solution: the role of data in selecting the right PQ Line device
One of the most underestimated aspects is the lack of specific data regarding electrical energy quality. As Paltrinieri points out:
“Many companies have detailed data on energy consumption, but they rarely measure power quality phenomena in a structured way, even though these significantly impact operational efficiency.”
Gabriele Paltrinieri, Chief Marketing Officer of Energia Europa S.p.A.
Without a proper measurement campaign, it becomes difficult to determine which PQ Line device is actually required. This topic is further explored in the article dedicated to power quality devices.
Power Quality, energy efficiency and cost reduction
Improving power quality means reducing losses, minimizing system stress, and preventing production downtime. For this reason, it is closely linked to energy savings in industrial facilities.
A more stable electrical system operates more efficiently, lasts longer, and generates measurable economic benefits over time.
How to choose the right PQ Line device for your facility
Choosing between PQ-VAR, PQ-PRO, and PQ-MAX cannot be done “by catalog.” Everything starts with proper measurement and analysis of real plant data.
Only through a data-driven assessment can the most effective solution be identified, avoiding oversizing or ineffective interventions.
Frequently Asked Questions about the PQ Line
When is PQ-VAR sufficient and when is a more advanced solution required?
PQ-VAR is recommended when the main issue is variable reactive power with limited harmonic distortion. If higher distortion levels are present, PQ-PRO or PQ-MAX should be evaluated.
What is the main difference between PQ-PRO and PQ-MAX?
PQ-PRO compensates harmonics up to the 13th order, while PQ-MAX prioritizes harmonic mitigation up to the 50th order and is designed for highly sensitive environments.
Do PQ Line devices replace traditional capacitor banks?
Yes. In modern industrial plants, they represent a more advanced and reliable evolution compared to traditional capacitor-based systems.
Is a measurement campaign always required before installation?
In most cases, yes — especially when sufficient diagnostic data is not available. Accurate data is essential to select the correct device and achieve concrete benefits.
Do you want to understand which PQ Line solution is best suited for your plant?
If you are evaluating how to improve the Power Quality of your industrial facility, the first step is a technical analysis based on real operational data.
