How high-efficiency SynRM motors enable long-term savings

01 September 2023

Industrial businesses realise the critical importance of energy efficiency. It is an immediate step that facilities can take to improve their sustainability, contribute to reaching net zero, and boost profitability. Here, Ivor Vidjen, Business Development Manager of IEC Low Voltage Motors at ABB, breaks down how businesses can achieve these goals and ensure long-term savings.

Electric motors are a logical place to start, as they are responsible for powering all sorts of equipment – such as pumps, fans, conveyors, mixers, and more – across every industry. Worldwide, motors and the systems that they drive are responsible for approximately 45 percent of all electricity consumption.

Fortunately, modern motors, such as synchronous reluctance (SynRM) motors, are significantly more efficient than older technology. In many cases, the efficiency improvements are so great that it might make sense for a facility to replace a less efficient motor before it has reached the end of its useful lifetime – often over 20 years from the time it is installed. Variable speed drives (VSDs), meanwhile, can be paired with new or existing motors to achieve significant efficiency improvements.

Saving money, cutting carbon
Buyers are sometimes reluctant to invest in new motors and drives, due to the upfront cost. It is true that more efficient solutions are typically more expensive than inefficient alternatives. However, the upfront cost is just a small fraction of the overall total cost of ownership (TCO).