- Enable hands-on learning with access to leading energy-efficient technologies
- Foster public-private sector collaboration to develop future-ready engineers and innovators, accelerating Malaysia's climate resilience
- Underpin the importance of energy efficiency as the first lever in the National Energy Transition Roadmap
In 2024, during the Academia Energy Efficiency Symposium organized by ABB, the academic community highlighted the urgent need for greater access to leading energy efficiency products and solutions. This is essential for universities to develop future-ready engineers. They emphasized the importance of hands-on learning to allow students to engage with real-world scenarios, materials and latest tools. Today, ABB is proud to support Malaysia’s energy transition by equipping Universiti Malaya (UM) with cutting-edge technologies that address these needs.
As part of its commitment, ABB has provided Universiti Malaya with an IE5 Synchronous Reluctance Motor (SynRM) together with an ACS580 general-purpose drive and smart sensor, innovative solutions that exemplify its commitment to high performance and sustainability.
The IE5 ultra-premium SynRM motor presented to UM represents the pinnacle of energy efficiency in electric motor technology. These ultra-premium efficiency motors deliver up to 50% lower energy losses compared to traditional IE2 induction motors, which are widely used in Malaysia and the region. Their robust design ensures enhanced reliability, extended service life, and lower maintenance requirements, making them ideal for a wide range of applications. Notably, these motors contain no rare earth materials, aligning with ABB's commitment to environmentally friendly solutions.
The combination of a SynRM motor and a variable speed drive (VSD) enables precise speed control, significantly optimizing energy consumption. This can result in energy savings of 25% or more in applications like pumps, fans, and compressors. Without a drive, a motor runs continuously at full speed, with its output controlled through throttling. This approach is highly inefficient.
In addition to the IE5 motor and drive, ABB has equipped the motor with a smart sensor, a state-of-the-art device that monitors the health and performance of critical equipment in real-time. These sensors provide valuable insights into operational efficiency, enabling proactive maintenance and minimizing downtime. It will allow students to learn how to optimize the performance of plants and factories in real-world scenarios.
“The low carbon transition, especially in industries, is a multi-faceted challenge, but a crucial starting point is the widespread adoption of high efficiency electric motors and related technologies. Electric motors consume over 45% of the world's electricity in applications that can be found across all industries, commercial buildings, and even households,” said R Narayanan, Group Senior Vice President & Head of Motion Business, Asia, ABB.
“This initiative is a testament to ABB's dedication to fostering collaboration between academia and industry to drive innovation and sustainability. By equipping our brightest minds with these advanced technologies, we hope to not only enhance the university's research capabilities but also inspire students to pursue careers in energy efficiency and sustainable engineering practices,” he added.
“ABB’s support marks a valuable step in strengthening industry-academia collaboration. We are truly grateful for this contribution, which will enrich our students’ hands-on learning and innovation in energy-efficient systems,” remarked Associate Prof. Ir. Dr. Anis Salwa Binti Mohd Khairuddin, Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya.
Aligning with World Youth Skills Day
ABB’s contribution to Universiti Malaya also ties closely with the spirit of World Youth Skills Day, celebrated globally on July 15th each year. This day highlights the importance of equipping young people with the technical skills and knowledge needed for sustainable development and future-ready careers.
Through this partnership, ABB is supporting youth empowerment by providing practical, hands-on exposure to cutting-edge technologies that are shaping the future of energy and industry. Technical briefings by ABB experts are also planned to help the students, researchers and teaching staff fully grasp technologies that are already available for various applications. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Universiti Malaya and supporting Malaysia's journey towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient future,” R Narayanan concluded.
