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THE TRUE COST OF ELECTRIC MOTORS

In Australia more than 1.7 million three-phase electric motors run in industrial and commercial facilities,

and account for nearly half of the energy used across all types of industry.

Every organisation runs at least one motor, if not hundreds or thousands, to drive pumps, conveyors,

refrigeration equipment and other processes requiring motive force. In a typical organisation, running

costs can be up to 100 times the purchase price of a motor over its service life. The electricity consumed

can account for more than half an organisations energy costs. Inefficient and poorly maintained systems

can also lead to reduced profits, unnecessary downtime, and even safety risks.

Best practice leads to improved motor system reliability and efficiency, significant and cost-effective

savings, higher profits, and lower energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Now, an innovative initiativeMotor Solutions Onlineis supporting industry to achieve best practice

in motor selection and management. Energy Efficiency Best Practice (EEBP), in the Commonwealth

Department of Industry, Science and Resources, is partnering with industry and other government bodies

on the initiative, encouraging a non-traditional, holistic and strategic approach to motors

which focuses on total life costs and links motor management to business systems.

SAVING THROUGH BEST PRACTICE

The savings opportunities are enormous considering that the energy consumed by electric motors

costs industry close to $3 billion a year and produces 37 million tonnes of carbon dioxide through

burning fossil fuels.

For example, organisations can cut the energy a motor requires by between 10 and 25 per cent

through better selection and management practices. For Australian industry, each percentage point

improvement in motor system efficiency translates to savings of nearly 370 000 MWh of electricity

and an associated 380 000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This is like taking 9 000 cars

off the road.

Total operating costs are also reduced through careful selection. A motor bought for $1 600 may cost

as much as $13 000 a year to run and amount to a total operating cost of $195 000 over a 15-year

lifetime. Best practice selection can reduce the total operating cost by as much as $16 000, or ten times

the initial purchase price.

Best practice in motor management

www.isr .gov.au/energybestpractice A U G U S T 2 0 0 1

Organisations can cut the

energy a motor requires

by between 10 and

25 per cent through

better management and

selection practices.

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ENERGY EFFICIENCY BEST PRACTICEEnergy and Environment Division

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

GPO Box 9839, Canberra City ACT 2601

Telephone: 02 6213 7878 Facsimile: 02 6213 7902 Email: energy.bestpractice@isr.gov.au

Web site: www.isr.gov.au/energybestpractice

It demonstrated how we

can improve our bottom

line and enhance our

environmental

performance.

Keith Jones,

South Australian Wine

and Brandy Association

COMCO/CLARITYCOMMUNICATIONS4846

MOTOR SOLUTIONS ONLINE

Key to the initiative is Motor Solutions Online (www.isr.gov.au/motors), a comprehensive but easy-to-use

resource that provides practical advice and assistance.

Motor Solutions Online includes a checklist, an interactive self assessment tool, a reference manual,

case studies and techguides. In addition, free Motor Selector software, which can be downloaded, helps

organisations make the right choices about selecting and repairing electric motors. The software

simplifies analysing complex factors such as purchase price, life cycle costs, financial risk and

CO2 emissions.

How selecting the right motor results in large and cost-effective savings and how whole-of-system design

and management can achieve even greater savings are two of the issues discussed in a series of

well-received workshops held across Australia.

The workshop I attended provided great insight into practical actions that can help reduce business

costs through increasing energy efficiency and improving motor reliability, said Keith Jones, Environment

Program Manager, South Australian Wine and Brandy Industry Association. It demonstrated the

potential losses associated with poor motor management. It showed how the wine industry can benefitfrom a systematic approach to motor management and how we can improve our bottom line and

enhance our environmental performance through greenhouse gas reductions.

STANDARDS AND CODES

Motor Solutions Online also deals with various standards and codes that support better practice in motor

management and will help Australian industry save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For example, from 1 October 2001 all three-phase electric motors from 0.73 kW to 185 kW supplied

throughout Australia must meet minimum energy performance and high efficiency standards (MEPS).

Also explained is the Code of Rewinding Practice, which aims to improve the efficiency of repaired

electric motors by one per cent overall, equivalent to the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by15 000 homes per year.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY BEST PRACTICE

The Motor Solutions Online initiative is managed by the Energy Efficiency Best Practice Program

of the Department of Industry Science and Resources, and was developed in partnership with the

Australian Greenhouse Office.

EEBP supports industry sectors to identify and implement cost-effective solutions for a more

sustainable and competitive future. The program has a combined focus on innovation, training

and benchmarking and also offers practical tools, information and assistance. EEBP is working

with a growing list of industry sectors, which includes aluminium production, beverage and

containers manufacturing, bread baking and milling, dairy processing, vehicle and fleet

management and hotel management.