Motors

Induction motors are used in very large numbers in industry and account for about xx% of industrial electricity consumption. Over the last few decades, the efficiencies of the best motors have increased considerably. Following a voluntary agreement (1998) between European motor manufacturers (represented by CEMEP and the European Commission the least efficient motors have been effectively eliminated from the market.

In the last few years, the technique of casting copper motor rotors has been perfected allowing further improvement in efficiency levels and offering a wide range of design options to manufacturers. While the efficiency of the motor is important, the design of the driven system is crucial; the motor must be well matched to the load and properly controlled, perhaps using a variable speed drive.

Typically, an electric motor can consume electricity to the equivalent of its capital cost within the first 500 hours of operation - a mere three weeks of continuous use, or three months of single shift working. Every year, the running cost of the motor will be from four to sixteen times its capital cost. Over its working life, an average of thirteen years, it may consume over 200 times its capital cost in energy.

The Motor Challenge Programme

The Motor Challenge Programme is a European Commission voluntary programme (launched in February 2003) through which industrial companies are aided in improving the energy efficiency of their Motor Driven Systems. Any enterprise or organisation planning to contribute to the Motor Challenge Programme objectives can participate.

Companies that use Motor Driven Systems can request "Partner" status. Through the Motor Challenge, they will receive: aid in defining and carrying out an Action Plan, to reduce energy related operating expenses, while maintaining or improving reliability and quality of service; public recognition for their contribution to achieving the objectives of the European Union's energy and environmental policies.

Publications and Software

To see all Electrical Application publications and software click here.

Pub 116 Electrical Energy Efficiency
Life time running costs must be taken into account when designing electrical installations or selecting replacement cables, motors and transformers. Both financial appraisal and technical consideration of electrical energy efficiency of motors, cables, busbars and transformers, with actual case histories showing savings to be made can be found in this book. 1997. 80pp.

Pub 172 European Motor Challenge Brochure
Brochure outlining the European Commission scheme to reduce energy consumption in motor driven systems. 2002. 20pp.

Pub 173 Electric Motor Efficiency
Brochure explaining the new EU/CEMEP motor efficiency classification system to help OEMs and motor end users reduce their electricity consumption through the replacement of standard motors with improved or high efficiency motors. 2003. 4pp.

Pub 176 Energy Efficient Motor Drive Systems
A report showing that industry in the enlarged European Union could save more than 200 billion kWh and reduce C0₂ emissions by 100 million tonne a year through the adoption of energy efficient motor driven systems. 2004. 32pp.

EuroDEEM
The European database for motor systems, EuroDEEM, contains high efficiency electric motor data. It is an important information tool that allows users to select the most energy-efficient electric motor for a new installation or for a replacement, evaluating energy and financial savings. In this respect, EuroDEEM helps promote electricity savings.