Demanding environmental targets within the EU and the rest of the world mean that the regulations concerning motor drives are being tightened up. You can benefit, both financially and environmentally, if you know your technical options and stay one step ahead. By connecting a frequency inverter to the motor right now, you can also take care of the future — you will save electricity from day one and you will be complying with the law even after 2015. Are you aware of the timetable?
The Ecodesign directive is an important tool in achieving the EU target of 20 per cent lower energy consumption by 2020. The directive requires Europe to save 383 TWh per year from 2020 onwards, with electric motors accounting for a third of this. Here’s how it affects companies operating in Europe:
- On June 16, 2011, the requirement for motors to meet at least the efficiency requirements at level IE2 became law.
- These requirements will be tightened up still further after January 1, 2015, when IE3 becomes mandatory from 7.5 to 375 kW.
- After January 1, 2017, motors with a rated output from 0.75 to 375 kW will also have to meet IE3 efficiency requirements.
- Motors controlled by frequency inverters are exempted from the rules on IE3 classification. They will only have to meet IE2 standards even after 2017 because of the optimized operation and energy savings brought by frequency inverters.
How can you make money from an EU directive?
With smarter operation, any company can comply with these more demanding energy-saving requirements even before the energy authority makes them law. The tougher energy classifications are already a fact. But there is a lot you can do to stay one step ahead of the regulations.
Improved efficiency throughout the drive system from installing frequency inverters can be a significant factor in reducing energy consumption. The potential energy savings in an optimized system range from 30 to 60 per cent. Frequency inverter technology has also become more accessible, through higher protection classes (IP66), built- in functionality, a more compact format and competitive pricing.
Beijer Electronics is a fast growing technology company with extensive experience of industrial automation and data communication. The company develops and markets competitive products and solutions that focus on the user. Since its start-up in 1981, Beijer Electronics has evolved into a multinational group present in 21 countries and sales of 1,400 MSEK 2011. The company is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Stockholm Small Cap list under the ticker BELE. www.beijerelectronics.se