- Symposium geared towards helping industries identify technologies and solutions that deliver the greatest value
- Energy efficiency is a vital compontent of Malaysia's net zero goal
- Electric motors remain a largely untapped potential for energy efficiency improvement
ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) and Schaeffler Malaysia held a joint symposium to underscore their commitment to advancing Malaysia’s energy efficiency agenda. Targeted at industry players, the half-day program drew over 70 participants from various segments including cement, steel, energy as well as utilities.
The symposium aligns with the Energy Efficiency Movement, an initiative launched by ABB in 2021 to raise awareness about opportunities afforded by the “first fuel”. In Malaysia, the collaboration with MGTC was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021 to underline the importance of energy efficiency in the nation’s transition to net zero.
“The symposium, our second to date, focused on electric motors, which are workhorses of industries. There is untapped potential for greater energy efficiency in electric motors that has been overlooked in comparison with other sustainable energy opportunities. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electric motors account for 45 percent of the world’s electricity consumption and the number of motors is set to double by 2040,” said R Narayanan, Group Senior Vice President and Head of Motion Business, Asia.
A large number of electric motors installed across industries consist of older designs that are unlikely to have IE3 or even IE2 efficiency. By upgrading to newer and more efficient motors such as the IE5 Synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) which operates as a package together with a variable speed drive (VSD), industries can benefit from both energy and cost savings.
SynRM motors are engineered for ultra-premium IE5 efficiency, with up to 40% lower losses than IE3 motors. The integrated solution or motor and drive is fully tested and proven in various applications across industries.
"We are pleased to be working closely with ABB to increase the uptake of energy efficiency in Malaysia. Together, we have successfully carried out various programs to push energy efficiency into a higher gear and to step-up the implementation of climate-forward actions across various industries,” said Ts. Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, Chief Executive Officer, MGTC.
In order to meet the nation’s carbon neutral ambition, MGTC has been actively promoting the Energy Management Standard, MyHijau Mark, Green Incentives and Low Carbon Operating System to bring energy efficiency to the fore.
“We have seen successes on many fronts and it is important that we continue to spread awareness about energy savings opportunities. Joint programs such the Energy Efficiency Symposium allow us to broaden our reach to highlight the full potential of energy efficiency as a key element in the national energy policy framework,” Ts. Shamsul Bahar added.
Schaeffler Malaysia shared valuable insights on bearings and motion solutions which are considered ‘invisible’ levers for energy savings. “Rotating machinery like pumps, compressors, motors and conveyor systems are the heart of most industrial plants. By adopting innovative low friction bearings, machine lubrication technology as well as comprehensive condition monitoring solutions, businesses will not only drive down their energy cost and consumption but also significantly increase reliability and productivity with lesser downtime and replacement parts,” said Jimmy Kassim, Head of Industrial Business, Schaeffler Malaysia.
“Optimising the way we consume energy is key in tackling climate challenge. The technology and solutions are available. What we need is the conviction to make the right decisions for a sustainable future,” Jimmy concluded.
