About
In 2015
53% of electricity worldwide was consumed by electric motor systems (10,700 TWh) representing
5.5 Gton CO2eq4 in emissions.
An increasing awareness by policy makers, manufacturers, and industry end-users of the extent of this consumption and its associated emissions has led to the introduction of minimum energy efficiency regulations and energy-efficient technologies to meet and exceed these standards.
Unfortunately, penetration of these highly efficient technologies is slower than it could be because motors stay in service longer than expected and go under the radar of existing regulation. Accelerating their replacement would free up additional savings potential.
In 2015
A growing awareness of this substantial consumption and its associated emissions by policy makers, manufacturers and industry end-users has led to the introduction of minimum energy efficiency regulations and of energy-efficient technologies that meet and exceed these standards.
Unfortunately, the penetration rate of these highly efficient technologies is slowed down due to the lifetime of electric motors being longer than expected, which is retarding and diminishing the realisation of the energy savings potential of regulation.
In 2015
A growing awareness of this substantial consumption and its associated emissions by policy makers, manufacturers and industry end-users has led to the introduction of minimum energy efficiency regulations and of energy-efficient technologies that meet and exceed these standards.
Unfortunately, the penetration rate of these highly efficient technologies is slowed down due to the lifetime of electric motors being longer than expected, which is retarding and diminishing the realisation of the energy savings potential of regulation.
In 2020
In the EU-27, electric motors represented approximately
70%
of the electricity consumption in industry (650 TWh/yr) and more than
40%
of the electricity consumption in the tertiary sector (255 TWh/yr).
Barriers need to be addressed to drive the uptake of replacement of old motors by new efficient motor technologies:
- Identify the total energy efficiency savings (although few % per single motor, multiplied with total numbers of motors and annual operation hours this potential is huge.
- Economic barriers, such as high upfont investment costs.
But under TCO perspective the replacement could show a good payback. Need some incentives & policy measures to motivate industry & tertiary end-user. - Lack of awareness about the co-benefits of energy efficient motors. The additional advantages of high-efficiency motors, such as lower maintenance due to lower operating temperatures and process improvements, are not taken into account in the decision-making process.
In 2020
electric motors represented approximately
70%
(650 TWh/yr) of industry’s electricity consumption in the EU27 and more than
40%
(255 TWh/yr) of the service sector’s electricity consumption.
In the drive to replace old motors with new efficient motor technologies, the barriers to change must first be addressed:
- The total energy efficiency savings potential should be identified. Although savings for individual motors are small, the potential is likely to be huge when the total numbers of motors and annual operation hours are considered.
- Economic barriers, such as high upfont investment can be considerable. Incentives and policy measures would be needed to motivate industry and service sector end-users. From a TCO perspective, however, replacement could show good payback.
- There is a lack of awareness about the co-benefits of energy efficient motors. The additional advantages they offer, such as lower maintenance costs due to lower operating temperatures and process improvements, are often not considered in the decision-making process.
In 2020
In the EU-27, electric motors represented approximately
70%
of the electricity consumption in industry (650 TWh/yr) and more than
40%
of the electricity consumption in the tertiary sector (255 TWh/yr).
Barriers need to be addressed to drive the uptake of replacement of old motors by new efficient motor technologies:
- Identify the total energy efficiency savings (although few % per single motor, multiplied with total numbers of motors and annual operation hours this potential is huge.
- Economic barriers, such as high upfont investment costs.
But under TCO perspective the replacement could show a good payback. Need some incentives & policy measures to motivate industry & tertiary end-user. - Lack of awareness about the co-benefits of energy efficient motors. The additional advantages of high-efficiency motors, such as lower maintenance due to lower operating temperatures and process improvements, are not taken into account in the decision-making process.
The potential savings can be even larger by improving the efficiency of the entire motor system, such as the correct sizing of the motor, digitalisation, sensorisation, removing unneeded transmissions, equipping the motor with VSD (variable speed drive), etc.
In particular, digitalisation plays an important role in maximising the potential savings triggered by motor renovation.
Circularity of materials used in the manufacture of electric motor
Electric motors are mainly built with materials that are recyclable and that have a high rest value (cast iron, electrical steel, plain carbon steel, aluminium, copper). Recycling requires much less energy than the production of virgin materials and, therefore, recirculating materials would greatly reduce the emissions currently associated with primary material production.
The EU-MORE project will carry out a dedicated survey to characterise the state of the art of motor recycling, which will be assessed against the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Sustainable Products Initiative.
Potential savings can be even greater if the efficiency of the entire motor system is improved. Measures addressing systems include appropriate sizing of the motor, digitalisation, sensorisation, eliminating unnecessary transmissions, and equipping motors with variable speed drives (VSDs).
Digitalisation, in particular, plays an important role in maximising the potential savings resulting from motor renovation.
Electric motors are mainly built with materials that are recyclable and have high residual value, such as cast iron, electrical steel, plain carbon steel, aluminium, and copper.
Recirculating these metals would greatly reduce the emissions currently associated with producing primary metals, since recycling requires less energy than producing from virgin materials.
The EU-MORE project will carry out a dedicated survey to characterise the state of motor recycling, which will be assessed against the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Sustainable Products Initiative.
The potential savings can be even larger by improving the efficiency of the entire motor system, such as the correct sizing of the motor, digitalisation, sensorisation, removing unneeded transmissions, equipping the motor with VSD (variable speed drive), etc.
In particular, digitalisation plays an important role in maximising the potential savings triggered by motor renovation.
Electric motors are mainly built with materials that are recyclable and that have a high rest value (cast iron, electrical steel, plain carbon steel, aluminium, copper). Recycling requires much less energy than the production of virgin materials and, therefore, recirculating materials would greatly reduce the emissions currently associated with primary material production.
The EU-MORE project will carry out a dedicated survey to characterise the state of the art of motor recycling, which will be assessed against the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Sustainable Products Initiative.
