~ EU regulations will help manufacturers reduce energy bills ~
There are approximately eight billion electric motors in use in the European Union. Little wonder then, that these devices will be subject to stricter Ecodesign requirements in future. Here, Neil Ballinger, head of EMEA at global automation parts supplier EU Automation, discusses the key elements of the latest regulatory requirements.
It is estimated that electric motors consume nearly half the total amount of electricity produced in the EU. With increasing pressure to implement policies that will reduce our carbon emissions, in addition to a mounting energy crisis resulting from the conflict in Ukraine, there are growing incentives to encourage the adoption of more energy efficient motors and the increased use of variable speed drives (VSDs).
The regulation on electric motors and variable speed drives (EU) 2019/1781 was introduced in 2019 and entered into force in July 2021. The new regulation has broader scope that its predecessor, covering single phase or three-phase motors, with rated output between 0.12kW and 1000kW, and rated voltage between 50V and 1000V.
Energy efficiency levels are expressed in classes, ranging from IE1 to IE5. Under the new rules, motors sold in the EU must reach IE2, IE3 or IE4 depending on rated power and other characteristics. This makes the EU the first place anywhere in the world to make IE4 mandatory for some categories of motor.
Regulations for VSDs
Electric motors convert electrical energy into mechanical energy in the form of rotation. A variable speed drive adjusts the rotation speed of the motor according to the needs of an application. For example, a motor that can vary its speed and torque would be more suitable for a pump delivering a flow that changes over time, in comparison to a motor that must operate at a continuous speed. The use of VSDs can generate considerable savings for manufacturers and the EU is keen to encourage their uptake.
The latest regulations are the first to extend regulation to drives in recognition of their increasing use. Previously, regulations stipulated that motors equipped with VSDs must achieve a IE2 or IE3 level, but these rules were not extended to the VSDs themselves. From July 2021, 2019/1781 requires all VSDs falling under its scope to reach IE2 level. In practice, this means that VSDs that only reach IE1 standards are banned from sale in the EU.
Wider context
In 2009, the EU’s Ecodesign Directive established a framework for the introduction of mandatory ecological requirements such as those stipulated in 2019/1781. The latter are therefore part of a much broader framework of ecological requirements for energy-using and energy-related products, including both consumer products and industrial products.
The ultimate aim is for manufacturers designing motors and other energy-consuming products to reduce the energy consumption and environmental impact at the design stage. It is estimated that the new regulations will results in annual savings of 110 TWh by the end of this decade, which is roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of the Netherlands. This means 40 million tonnes of C02 emissions will be avoided every year, but it also means substantial cost savings for manufacturers too.
You can find out more about the regulation 2019/1781 here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1781/oj. To keep up to date with other the latest manufacturing news, visit EU Automation’s Knowledge Hub.
