Energy efficiency and sustainability with ABB electric motors and generators

By deciding to use energy efficient motors, you can improve the performance of your machinery and lower your energy costs, while at the same time having positive effects on the environment. ABB’s energy efficient motors are designed and labeled to comply with the international standards.

 

Electric motors consume over 45% of the world's electricity.
By 2040 the number of motors will double.
Adoption of high efficiency motor systems would cut global electricity consumption by up to 10%.
Changing just one motor can make a difference.

Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS)

MEPS (Minimum Energy Performance Standards) for low voltage motors have played an important role in helping countries to meet their energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions targets. For motor users, MEPS have led to an overall increase in motor efficiency and made it easier to compare efficiency levels between manufacturers.

These benefits have prompted many countries around the world to adopt their own MEPS. However, the actual requirements vary between the different countries - please click the highlighted link to see for more information about the main regions and countries.

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Environmental Product Declarations

An Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is a third-party verified report describing the environmental impact of a product along its lifecycle, i.e. from cradle to grave.

Information contained in EPDs is based on Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), which quantify the environmental impact over the whole life cycle of a product, from resource extraction to its end-of-life. As such EPDs  provide customers with a way to transparently understand these impacts and compare footprint of products on the market.

Click the link to view the available IEC low voltage motors EPDs:
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ABB EcoSolutions™

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The ABB EcoSolutionsTM QR-code provides full transparency to environmental impacts across the entire product lifecycle.

Products within the portfolio comply with a set of key performance indicators defined in ABB’s circularity framework and carry an external, third-party verified environmental product declaration (ISO 14025).

IE5 Synchronous reluctance motors (cast iron, 160-315) are first IEC LV Motors to earn ABB EcoSolutions™ QR-code.

View the circular value and environmental footprint of ABB IE5 SynRM motors from the Environmental Product Declarations.

Highlights

Article
Leading the change in reshaping the future or electric motors

One of the key features of the circular motor is the stator housing. Cast from 100 percent recycled aluminum, this is the result of a joint initiative between ABB and Swedish company Stena Aluminium
Article
Ecodesign: The next steps towards raising electric motor efficiency

Reducing CO2 emissions and planning a more sustainable future are global priorities. Not only do we need to decarbonise generation, but we also need to make the most efficient use of the energy we produce right now.
Be part of the Energy Efficiency Movement

Wherever energy is used, energy can also be saved. In fact, improving energy efficiency is the most effective way to cut CO2 emissions. At ABB, we aim to keep the world turning, while saving energy every day.

Video
Towards an Energy Efficient Future for Shipping

ABB's Permanent Magnet Shaft Generators
Website
Ecodesign for motors and drives

Commission Regulation EU 2019/1781 sets new requirements for electric motors and variable speed drives.
Article - Reuters
Circularity: the new direction of choice

Reuters article by Stefan Floeck on how new circular business models are driving sustainability and what ABB are doing to adopt the circularity approach in line with the 2030 sustainability strategy.
Video
How does ABB test electric motors?

Electric motors keep the world turning. And today’s highly efficient motors save energy and cut emissions. Efficiency is so important that we fully test our new motors to ensure they meet the efficiency targets.

Standards

Technical note
IEC 60034-30-1

Efficiency classes for low voltage motors
Technical note
IEC 60034-34-2-1

Efficiency measurement methods for low voltage motors
Fact sheet
EU Ecodesign Regulation

Commission regulation EU 2019/1781 setting new regulations for electric motors and variable speed drives

ABB high efficient products

ABB IE5 SynRM and Drives

ABB SynRM motor and drive package is perfectly matched, enabling you to get everything you need from a single supplier.
Synchronous Motors

With their unparalleled high efficiency, synchronous motors will play a key role in the energy transition.
Drives

Empower your business with profitable efficiency
Permanent Magnet Shaft Generator for Marine

ABB's permanent magnet shaft generator can help reduce emissions, and enhance the efficiency, performance and reliability of ocean-going vessels.

Reference cases

Circularity: The new direction of choice

ABB and HKS The Metal Company joined forces to reduce energy consumption by choosing the direction of circularity – helping reduce emissions through recycling.

New shaft generator technology boosts marine energy efficiency

ABB permanent magnet shaft generator will enhance the efficiency, performance and reliability of ocean-going vessels. AMZ1400 permanent magnet generators innovative design can help cut fuel costs up to 4 percent.

ABB to equip twelve Himalaya Shipping bulk carriers with shaft generator solutions for maximum efficiency

ABB technology will improve the energy efficiency of ultra-large bulk carriers by up to 4 percent while saving about 20 percent of space on board compared to a conventional solution

SynRM and Drive package lift energy efficiency in Husum

Metsä Board's Husum mill in Sweden is an integrated board and pulp mill. Thanks to ABB SynRM motors and drives the facility is saving energy and money in their energy-intensive operations.

ABB helps make fashion industry more sustainable with innovative technology

ABB will deliver automation, electrification, quality control systems, motors and drives for Renewcell’s new industrial textile recycling production line in Sundsvall, Sweden.

Campbell’s Australia cuts costs with SynRM

Ageing infrastructure upgraded to enable water supply system to operated more efficiently and cost effectively, with ABB SynRM motors and drives.

A role model for energy efficiency in Switzerland

Model Group, a packaging manufacturer, upgraded a paper machine with energy efficient ABB IE4 motors including drives, significantly increasing efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

Energy efficiency in the milling industry Casillo Group

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 innacurate 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 audiable noise are achieved with the installation of an ABB synchronous reluctance motor and drive (SynRM) package on a twin extruder application.

Powering the world's most energy efficient pulp mill in Finland

ABB will supply the complete power and process electrical system for Metsä Group's new bioproducts mill in Äänekoski, central Finland. The first mill to operate fully free from fossil fuels will increase the share of renewable energy and generate twice as much power as it consumes.

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.

See more

Click here to see more customer success stories of how ABB products increase energy efficiency and sustainability.

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