# Does a harmonic filter save electricity in a factory with many drives?

Canonical: https://senseible.earth/answers/harmonic-filter-energy-saving-factory

A little, mostly by cutting heating losses in cables and transformers. The bigger gains are fewer drive trips, longer capacitor life and a steadier power factor. Measure total harmonic distortion and kWh before and after; do not assume a saving figure.

## Where losses come from

Harmonic currents add to RMS current, which heats cables and transformers. Removing them lowers those losses, usually a small share of total consumption.

## How to test

1. Log THD and kWh at the main incomer for a typical week.
2. Install the filter and log again under the same production.
3. Count only the measured change, multiplied by 0.710 kg CO2 per kWh for Indian grid power.

## What Senseible does here

Senseible reads electricity bills, including kVAh, demand and solar export lines, into dated records with the units, factor and year behind every Scope 2 figure.

- [Power factor correction and emissions](https://senseible.earth/answers/does-power-factor-correction-reduce-emissions)
- [VFD savings on pumps and fans](https://senseible.earth/answers/vfd-pump-fan-energy-co2-savings)
- [Transformer losses in Scope 2](https://senseible.earth/answers/transformer-losses-in-scope-2)

Sources: [Bureau of Energy Efficiency, energy efficiency guides](https://beeindia.gov.in), [CEA CO2 Baseline Database, version 21.0](https://cea.nic.in/cdm-co2-baseline-database/?lang=en)

Last reviewed 2026-10-22.