Energy efficiency measures in electric motors systems: A novel classification highlighting specific implications in their adoption

Abstract

Electric motor systems (EMS) cover a remarkable share of industrial power consumption. Despite the wide set of apparently cost-effective opportunities to improve energy efficiency in this cross-cutting technology, often decision-makers do not take them, as the detail for a specific decision can be too high, resulting in an implementation rate quite low. In particular, little knowledge of the features that should be considered when deciding to undertake an action in this area represents a serious hurdle. In many cases, information regarding the characteristics of such energy efficiency measures (EEMs) is quite vague. For this reason, in the present study, we present a thorough overview of EEMs for EMS, basing on an extensive review of scientific and industrial literature. By highlighting their characteristics and productivity benefits, most of which impacting on the adoption decision-making process, we re-categorise EEMs for EMS, offering specific detail over single EEMs and thus support to industrial decision-makers. EEMs are presented according to four main groups, as follows: hardware, motor system drives, management of motors in the plant, and power quality. The novel classification is helpful to support research for the development of a new framework to represent the main factors that affect the adoption of EEMs for EMS. Further, it may help the identification and quantification of productivity benefits for those EEMs. Finally, it could result in a valuable tool offering different perspectives in the decision-making of industrial managers and technology suppliers, as well as industrial policy-makers.