Guidance on electric motors

The Carbon Trust has published two new guides to help UK industry invest in more efficient electric motors and variable speed drives (VSDs).

The Carbon Trust has published two new guides – Motors and drives and Motors and drives technology overview – to help UK industry save more than £630 million through the use of more efficient electric motors and variable speed drives (VSDs).

According to the trust, the UK food and drink industry could save up to £70 million per year by installing VSDs and more efficient motors, while the plastics, rubber and chemicals sectors could collectively save up to £270 million annually.

The trust advises that fans and pumps often do not need to work at 100% capacity, and by using a VSD to slow them down by just 20%, firms can save up to 50% on their energy use.