• GSK’s Tuas South site is set to cut electricity use by 615 MWh and CO₂ emissions by 246 Tons annually with ABB’s comprehensive energy efficiency strategy, including fleet-wide appraisals and motor upgrades
• If achieved, these savings could power more than 120 households in Singapore, or over 234 battery-operated electric vehicles, annually
• Sixty-five ABB IE5 ultra-premium efficiency synchronous reluctance motors (SynRM), combined with variable speed drives (VSDs), accelerate GSK’s decarbonization roadmap and deliver a 2.5-Year return on investment (ROI)
GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK), one of the world’s largest healthcare companies, has taken a bold step toward its net-zero goals by partnering with ABB to upgrade legacy motors at its vaccine manufacturing facility in Tuas South, Singapore. Through this strategic move, GSK is projected to save up to 615 MWh of electricity annually, reduce CO₂ emissions by 246 tons, and lower energy costs by up to USD 130,000, exceeding the factory’s decarbonization target by 25 percent. The initiative supports GSK’s global ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2030 and reinforces Singapore’s role as a hub for sustainable pharmaceutical innovation.
Delivered in two phases between September and December 2025 and rooted in a comprehensive fleet-level energy appraisal, the project is seeing ABB deploy 65 IE5 ultra-premium efficiency synchronous reluctance motors (SynRM) combined with ACH580-01 heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) drives, leading to the first-ever installation of ABB VSDs at GSK Tuas South. A VSD adjusts motor speed to the actual demand of the system — like easing a car’s accelerator to control speed. This prevents the motor from running harder than necessary and significantly improves energy efficiency, typically saving 25 percent energy and more. If just a fraction of the world’s motors were upgraded to more efficient models and paired with VSDs, we could unlock massive energy savings — without generating a single extra megawatt. Magnet- and rare earth-free IE5 SynRM motors are part of the ABB EcoSolutions™ portfolio, that empowers industrial players to make informed and responsible choices through increased transparency about each product’s circularity credentials and environmental impact. This holistic upgrade boosts the long-term reliability of motors and drives and provides actionable insights into energy performance. It maximizes ROI, with an average payback period across both phases estimated at 2.5 years.
“This upgrade was a strategic step in our decarbonization roadmap,” said William Tan, Sustainability Manager at GSK Tuas Singapore. “ABB’s solution helped us go beyond our original emissions reduction target at Tuas South – delivering financial savings and reliability improvements while cutting 246 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. It is a tangible example of how we are translating our 2045 net-zero ambition into action.”
IE5 SynRM motors - Ultra-Premium efficiency in the most versatile magnet-free motor range - 0.75 to 450 kW 
The first-ever ABB HVAC drives installed at GSK Tuas South have the potential to achieve up to 25% energy savings 
Mayly May, Energy Efficiency Market Development Manager, ABB Motion Services 
William Tan, Sustainability Manager at GSK Tuas Singapore
Across the globe, GSK aims to achieve an 80 percent absolute reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1–3) from a 2020 baseline by 2030, transitioning to full value chain net-zero by 2045. To meet this target, the Tuas South facility has embarked on a series of energy-saving upgrades, with a major focus on HVAC system optimization. By leveraging ABB’s SynRM and VSD technologies, advanced energy reporting, and deep domain expertise, GSK is now able to validate measurable progress toward its sustainability goals.
“Working with GSK challenged us to deliver more than just equipment,” added Mayly May, Energy Efficiency Market Development Manager, ABB Motion Services. “We are proud to help them unlock significant savings and environmental gains via a thorough energy efficiency strategy, laying the foundation for deeper collaboration in sustainable pharmaceutical manufacturing.”
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About GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK)
GSK is one of the world’s largest healthcare companies, uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease. With operations in over 75 countries and approximately 70,000 employees, GSK develops and manufactures vaccines, specialty medicines and general medicines for global distribution. In Singapore, GSK’s presence dates back to 1959, with four key sites including its Tuas South facility, a state‑of‑the‑art global vaccines manufacturing hub.
ABB is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform. At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com
ABB Motion, a global leader in motors and drives, is at the core of accelerating a more productive and sustainable future. We innovate and push the boundaries of technology to contribute to energy efficient, decarbonizing and circular solutions for customers, industries and societies. With our digitally enabled drives, motors and services we support our customers and partners to achieve better performance, safety and reliability. To help the world’s industries outrun – leaner and cleaner, we deliver motor-driven solutions for a wide range of applications in all industrial segments. Building on over 140 years of domain expertise in electric powertrains, our more than 23,000 employees across 100 countries learn and improve every day. https://new.abb.com/about/our-businesses/motion
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