Energy efficiency

Need to increase energy efficiency?

Learn how our drives technology can help you do that.

Nearly 70 percent of all industrial electrical energy use goes to powering electric motors. These motors are the workhorses of business, from pumps moving fluids to fans moving air to compressors, conveyors, and every type of machine that depends on rotational force to get its job done.

And it’s these motors that are the key to help you reduce your energy use and CO₂ emissions, or even find more energy efficient solutions for your customers. That’s why we’ve developed a wide portfolio of low and medium voltage AC drives, as well as a portfolio of DC drives. Drives (variable speed drives or variable frequency drives) are designed to run your motors based on the your processes current demands rather than running them at full speed and reducing output using mechanical controls like throttles, dampers or gears.

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Why adding a drive matters

It is estimated that 23% of the world’s industrial motors are equipped with a drive

That figure is expected to only increase to 26% over the next five years

While not every motor can use a drive, experts suggest that roughly 50% of industrial motors would benefit from being paired with one

When added to the existing motor of a pump, fan or compressor, a drive can typically reduce power consumption by 25%

Success case short videos

All references, highlights and materials

Tools

EnergySave calculator

Interactive energy saving calculator for comparing AC drive control against traditional flow control methods

Optimizer

For finding the optimal electrical motor for any MEPS worldwide

EcoDesign

Tool to determine losses and efficiency for complete drive module (CDM), VSD driven LV motor and power drive system (PDS).

Highlights

Saving energy with VSD systems

Variable speed drive (VSD) systems and synchronous motor technologies can provide significant energy savings in the petroleum and chemical industries. (Hydrocarbon Engineering, Feb 2019)

IEN Europe: The Many Benefits of Energy Efficiency

While there has never been more pressure for industry to use less energy, energy efficiency measures are sometimes perceived as a greater risk than the rewards they can bring.

Four reasons to invest in better energy efficiency

Equipping pumps, fans and compressors with variable speed drives (VSDs) does not only save energy but increases profitability of operations as well.

When a pump became an energy-generating turbine

In industrial processes, valves are familiar components. Could a pump turbine be an energy-efficient solution to replace energy-consuming valves? Read Jukka Tolvanen's blog post.

5 tips to reduce energy consumption of fans

Did you know that factories, hospitals, schools and other buildings are full of fans that contribute a significant portion to the electricity bill? Learn how to use fans efficiently with these 5 tips on our blog post.

Manufacturing Today // Issue 141: Saving energy

Jukka Tolvanen explains why energy consumption is becoming ever-more important and shares a practical example of how variable speed drive technology is helping a plastics moulding manufacturer to control its energy use.

Energy efficiency is no longer an opinion!

Read Roberto Vanetti's blog post on how energy efficiency saves money, the environment and elevates the stature of a company's brand

Is your irrigation system equipped to realize the multiple benefits of energy efficiency?

Read Jukka Tolvanen's blog post on how to run your irrigation system smoothly and with lower electricity costs.

Engineers save the world

Through improvements in energy efficiency, global fossil fuel consumption for power generation could be reduced by up to 30 percent, blogs Jukka Tolvanen.

Don’t just settle for IE3 motors when more is on offer

New MEPS regulations have some significant implications for everyone in the supply chain, blogs Marco Veeckman.

Improving energy efficiency in the water business

The water industry is finding innovative ways to secure continuous supply of water on demand in an energy efficient and sustainable manner, blogs Vilma Lindell.

Multiple benefits of energy efficiency

Industry investing in energy efficiency generates up to 50 percent more added value on top of energy savings, blogs Jukka Tolvanen.

New MEPS regulations? Let your motor supplier take the strain

January 1, 2017 is an important date for all users of electric motors rated from 0.75 kW to 375 kW, blogs Marco Veeckman.

Smoothly navigating through MEPS

While the global Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) for low voltage electric motors is a good thing for the planet, understanding the differences adopted by each country can be confusing and time-consuming. Here we detail some of the many tools and services that can help plan your journey more efficiently.

Regulation paves the way for sustainable future

Standards and directives have a significant impact on the spread of energy-efficient electrical equipment, and thus saving energy, blogs Jukka Tolvanen.

The future of energy efficiency – know it already?

Two thirds of available energy efficiency potential remains untapped. A better world is created by engineering innovations together, blogs Jukka Tolvanen.

Regulation for IE3 motors is changing – are you ready?

Starting January 1, 2017, IE3 regulations will be extended to motor ranges from current 7,5 kW to 375 kW, down to 0,75 kW in the European Union. Find out more about Ecodesign directive.

Keeping eye on the ball – world energy production is growing

The world’s demand for energy production and consumption continues to grow – it’s time to act now to ensure a sustainable future for the next generations, blogs Jukka Tolvanen.

What can cloud services offer us?

By activating new, energy-efficient solutions in the cloud, innovations can be implemented more quickly, while still managing to save energy. Read our energy efficiency expert Jukka Tolvanen's blog post.

SynRM changes the face of constant torque in extruder applications

SynRM brings between 8 to 15 percent improvement in energy use. Read Lasse Ventola's blog post about synchronous reluctance motor technology.

New motor technology brings lower energy, maintenance and noise to extruder

Constant torque application benefits from synchronous reluctance motor technology.

ABB to power the world’s most energy-efficient pulp mill

The first mill to operate fully free from fossil fuels will increase the share of renewable energy in Finland by more than two percent

Profitability race: ABB Drives vs S&P 500

ABB drives can save energy and generate profits 25 times more than stock market average. Can this be true? Absolutely. Read our energy efficiency expert Jukka Tolvanen's blog post.

Energy efficiency infographics

Using ABB’s variable speed drives and high efficiency motors to intelligently run applications increases energy efficiency. This has enormous positive financial, operational and environmental implications.

Sugar mill managed to reduce cane-crusher energy use by over 40 percent

Switching to a modern ABB rib cooled motor and drive package on its cane crusher helped Mirpurkhas Sugar Mills in Pakistan to reduce energy use by more than 40 percent.

Sausage maker saved energy in its production processes

In Germany, a sausage maker that has been in business for nearly two centuries was looking for ways to save energy in its production processes. It found that by replacing the fan motors in its smokehouses with ABB’s IE4 motors it could cut the fans’ energy use in half.

Pioneering energy efficiency for reliable drinking water supply

Evides Waterbedrijf building success in the water business on sustainability, pioneering the first use of ABB’s low-energy SynRM motor and drive technology in the Netherlands providing estimated 20% energy savings at its latest pumping station project.

Plastic container maker sees 60 percent fall in energy costs and 30 percent higher output

A worn out hydraulic motor on a 23 year old blow molding machine at Northern Ireland’s PrimePac was using excessive energy and producing inaccurate speed holding, leading to poor quality plastic bottles.

Radius Systems' constant torque application benefits from SynRM technology by ABB

Up to 15 percent lower energy use, a significant reduction in motor maintenance costs and a drop in audible noise are achieved with the installation of an ABB SynRM motor and drive package on a twin extruder application.

Indian pump supplier uses new ABB solar pump drive to meet water, energy and environmental goals

ABB’s ACS355 solar pump drive has enabled Shakti Solar Pump technology to be totally independent from the electricity grid and diesel fuel.

Drives give South African farmer 40% energy savings, smoother operation and less work

Using ACS550 drives helped Riecor farming to gain 40% savings in electricity.

'Motor technology and efficiency' article

European Ecodesign standards are pushing for higher efficiency machines and processes through more efficient use of electricity. Read our article about finding cost efficient solution for improving energy efficiency.

10 million opportunities to do more while using less energy

The ten millionth energy-efficient variable speed drive recently rolled off the assembly line in ABB’s factory in Beijing.