Around 70 percent of industrial electricity consumption can be attributed directly to electric motors, which consequently are responsible for the majority of the world’s carbon emissions. To help address this issue, the EU has passed mandatory legislation under its Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) scheme to ensure that motors entering the market are more energy efficient as standard.
Phase 2 starts now
The first phase of the scheme (efficiency level IE2) was implemented in June 2011, and this is now followed by IE3. Specifically, single-speed, three-phase induction motors with a rated output from 7.5 to 375kW must now meet the IE3 efficiency level, or the IE2 level if fitted with a variable speed drive. ATEX motors and some other types of specialty motor are excluded from the directive.
WMPG has reacted quickly to the need for new, high efficiency products. For Bredel 50 to 2100 hose pumps, new motors for the range 7.5 to 375kW with or without PTCs, all current IE2 motors now have an IE3 equivalent.
Similarly, with respect to Masosine SPS, EC and MR sine pumps when configured with motor power 7.5kW or higher. In fact, at Masosine, a system has been installed with motor manufacturer SEW to ensure motors are delivered which satisfy the specific legal requirements in the requesting country.
In essence, to meet the new efficiency legislation, motor manufacturers have redesigned products with higher copper content, thus offering losses circa 15 percent less than IE2 motors. The benefit for end users is a considerable reduction in running costs over the lifecycle of the IE3 efficiency motor, along with far fewer carbon emissions.