GAMBICA calls for greater VSD awareness 05 July 2011

GAMBICA is calling for greater awareness of variable speed drives, following an IEA (International Energy Agency) white paper, which establishes that power usage could be slashed, if VSDs were more widely adopted.

The UK automation trade body GAMBICA wants electric motor among purchasing teams and machine builders and systems integrators to move towards a standardised process for describing energy efficiency that includes VSDs in quotations.

IEA's white paper, Energy-efficiency policy opportunities for electric motor-driven systems, argues that energy usage on electric motor applications will double by 2030. However, it also suggests that energy usage could be cut by 10%, if all appropriate efficiency measures were put in place to control the new motors.

Steve Brambley, head of GAMBICA's Industrial Automation sector, sees the paper's findings as a validation of GAMBICA's previous position on energy efficiency.

"By including the lifetime energy cost of the application in their quote to the customer, [machine builders and system integrators] can both mark themselves out in comparison to their competitors and provide a better, more cost effective service to the end user," insists Brambley.

"Ultimately, I would like to see a consistent standard applied to all industrial systems that would clearly delineate their energy efficiency," he adds. "Something similar to the miles-per-gallon ratings used for vehicles would give a clear comparison and be easily understood by non technical people."

Brambley says that, while plant engineers are aware of the benefits of VSDs, the job now is to prompt purchasing teams to base their decisions on lifetime energy costs, not just capital expenditure.

The IEA paper provides a useful work plan (Torquing the Talk) to make the appropriate change happen. Its top priority is convening a technical working group by the end of this year (2011) to maximise the saving potential of variable speed drives, fans, pumps and induction motors.

"This brilliant IEA document should be essential reading for anyone concerned with the level of energy use in their business," says Brambley.

Brian Tinham

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