Preparing the published article.
Energy Prices and Automation Payback
Energy costs move the business case in both directions.
Where energy sits
| Item | Effect on the case |
|---|---|
| Robot consumption | Usually a small share of station cost |
| Compressed air | Often the largest utility cost in a cell |
| Cooling and extraction | Grows with enclosure density |
| Rework avoided | Reduces energy per good part |
| Idle operation | Waste between shifts |
How to improve the numbers
- Meter the station before and after the change.
- Target compressed air leaks, which dominate many plants.
- Include idle consumption in the baseline.
Energy costs depend on local tariffs and usage patterns. Build the case on your own metered data.