How motor management solutions are acting for a climate-positive world

Modern industrialists face mounting pressure from governments, society, and investors to demonstrate sustainability practices. Today’s buyers demand eco-efficient brands, green products, responsibly sourced materials, and sustainability-focused solutions and services.

Achieving sustainable operations is one of the most important challenges industrial enterprises have ever faced. The good news is that the technology to address sustainability already exists. Digital electrification and automation solutions allow us to operate everything more efficiently.

The energy use of corporations typically comprises about half of their carbon footprint. A large driver of this energy usage comes from motors that consume between 60% and 95% of the electrical energy in a plant. Optimisation of these motors, with a holistic motor management solution, can decrease CO₂ emissions and have a direct impact on the sustainability of the operations.

One key way this can be done within motor management solution is with Altivar variable speed drives, which bring energy efficiency to industrial operations. Independent studies have shown that with the Altivar drives 30 MtCO₂ was saved between 2018 and 2020 (an average of 10 MtCO₂ per year, over a total of 155 MtCO₂) and 85 MtCO₂ avoided this same period (an average of 27 MtCO₂ per year, over a total of 107 MtCO₂).

What does a holistic motor management solution look like?

There is no denying that motors directly impact industrial electrical distribution and equipment, as they are critical assets at the foundation of all industrial processes. With motors being large consumers of energy, even a slight optimisation of these motors can have a direct impact on the sustainability of the operation.

With the effective design, engineering, and management of motor applications, efficiently-run motors can significantly contribute to a company’s sustainability, while driving high performance, productivity, and safety with less unplanned downtime and plant stoppages, including:

• 30% reduction in energy consumption (with Altivar Process Drives)
• 20% improvement in motor availability
• 4x faster recovery after an unexpected stop
• 50% reduction in motor down time
• 40% reduction in design time.
   

With tools such as a motor management energy saving calculator (as part of EcoStruxure Motor Management Design) you get instant insight in to the calculation of your CO₂ reduction as well as return on investment and payback period information based on your motor application characteristics.

Best practices: Go green

Top industry players such as Schneider Electric offer motor management solutions that include Green Premium products that come with detailed information on their regulatory compliance, material content, environmental impact, and circularity attributes. As a driver of sustainable business performance for their customers and partners, Green Premium products focus on:

• Resource performance and CO₂ impact
• Circular performance and cost of ownership optimisation
• Wellbeing, performance, and peace of mind.

Coming soon to ANZ: The Altivar ATS480 Soft Starter

The Altivar Soft Starter ATS480 is part of the new motor management offering, marking the next evolution of soft starters with digitalisation in mind. The ATS480 reduces engineering time and cost through simplified selection and optimisation of the power and plant architecture, as well as securing operations with cybersecurity best practices, digitally troubleshooting issues and providing constant support. The ATS480 is designed to address process and infrastructures, simplifying project execution and maximising the availability of applications even in the most demanding environments. It builds on the proven robustness and start/stop performance extending the lifetime of the ATS48 equipment and preserving the initial investment by reusing current design.

To learn more about how Motor Management solutions help Industries of the Future thrive, from design and build to operate and maintain, download the new Schneider Electric whitepaper.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Doin Oakenhelm