Improving in energy efficiency cuts costs and reduces emissions
Text: Jonas Lindqvist / ABB
Did you know that one of the most effective ways to cut CO2 emissions is to improve the energy efficiency? 45% of the world’s electricity is used to power electric motors in building and industrial applications. It has been estimated that if all of more than 300 million industrial electric motor-driven systems currently in operation were replaced with optimized, high-efficiency equipment, global electricity consumption could be reduced by up to 10 percent.
Many processes, also in the forest-based industry, rely on older, less energy-efficient equipment – especially electric motor-driven equipment such as pumps, fans and compressors. Indeed, a significant amount of the current energy use in the industry is unnecessary causing extra costs and slowing down progress towards a more sustainable world. Fortunately, there are also solutions: modern electric motors have an important role in reducing electricity consumption.
Another way to save even more energy is to use variable speed drive operated motors instead of direct online operated motors. The variable speed drive offers a possibility controlling the speed of the driven application, and to improve the energy efficiency, by optimizing the performance of the motor. Despite these advantages, it is estimated that just 23% of the world’s industrial motors are equipped with drives.
For new installations and upgrades, European law requires IE3 efficiency class motors from 0,75kW to 1000kW and on top of that IE4 class for 75-200kW motors, with pole numbers 2,4 and 6. However, these regulations do not address older motors that are already in use. As a result, many facilities continue to use inefficient IE2 or even IE1 motors, unnecessarily wasting power and causing CO2 emissions.
A solution is to replace older motors with newer, more efficient models. The most efficient motors on the market today are the ABB IE5 synchronous reluctance motors (SynRM). Switching to an ABB IE5 SynRM motor cuts energy loses by 40% compared to an IE3 motor. When paired with a drive, it has been demonstrated to cut energy use by up to 25% in most common applications. Also from a financial perspective, upgrades quickly pay for themselves and continue to produce savings throughout the motor’s lifetime.
Have you already considered actions that your business can take to improve in energy efficiency? Come to meet as in Pulp & Beyond on April 10–11 and we’ll introduce how ABB’s solutions can make a difference in reducing energy costs and lowering emissions.
Links:
The industrial energy efficiency playbook (abb.com)
ABB Synchronous Reluctance Motors Unleashing Industrial Power & Efficiency
ABB:n ratkaisut metsäteollisuuteen
ABB contact person:
Jonas Lindqvist
Sales Manager, Motion
Tel: +358 50 332 4008
Email: jonas.lindqvist@fi.abb.com