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EU's 2015 super-efficiency electric motor target is achievable today using Baldor's IEC frame range

specifying IE3-rated motors now could repay investment several times by 2015

Bristol, UK, August 6, 2009 --- The new IE3 minimum efficiency standard for new electric motors that will become part of Europe's mandatory requirements starting in 2015 is already available in Baldor's range. IE3 is effectively the same as the USA's NEMA Premium standard, and over the last few years Baldor has developed a very broad range of super-efficient IEC frame types alongside its NEMA Premium motors for domestic American markets. With efficiencies up to 96%-plus, upgrading to one of these IE3 motors now could repay a motor's capital investment cost several times over by 2015, as well as generate substantial ongoing energy cost savings for users.

"The capital cost of a motor destined for continuous or sustained use is dwarfed by its lifetime electricity operating costs," says Baldor's Robin Cowley. "Mandatory minimum efficiency standards for motors sold into Europe will start to apply in 2011 - and become much higher again from 2015 onwards. Sooner or later all motor users are going to have to transition to higher efficiency and it makes sense to start building this requirement into plans now, for new equipment projects, and wherever motors are likely to be refurbished or replaced. In some EU countries, there are also tax incentives when installing these motors, such as the Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) scheme in the UK. Such actions not only make economic sense, they can play an enormous role in helping corporations to meet their environmental care goals, such as targets adopted as part of conforming to the popular ISO14001 standard."

The new higher efficiency standards start to come into force in Europe in 2011 when all general-purpose AC motors installed in the EU must meet a minimum efficiency of IE2 - equivalent to the previous CEMEP Eff 1 standard. The minimum standard becomes a step higher again from 2015 onwards when all motors will either need to meet IE3 - which is up to three percentage points better efficiency than IE2 - or be a combination of an IE2 rated motor with a variable speed control.

Baldor's standard IEC frame IE3 range of AC motors - called Super-E Metric - spans 22 power ratings from 4 to 375 kW, with a choice of three speed options at each rating. Maximum efficiencies at full load start at 89.9% for a 4 kW 4-pole motor, and go up to more than 96.3% for high power motors. Baldor also offers higher voltage, ultra high efficiency motors for higher power applications up to 10 MW.

All the standard motors feature cast iron frames for durability, and will run from 50 Hz, 380-415 V three-phase supplies. They are additionally rated for use at 60 Hz/460 V, making them suitable for use in the USA as well. Baldor complements this range with an even broader selection of IE3 rated motors in NEMA frames. Baldor is renowned for its customisation ability, and users can additionally specify IE3 rated motors with a range of protection options for applications including all-stainless-steel washdown duty types, severe duty and chemical duty (IEEE 841 compliant).

All Super-E Metric motors are wound with Baldor's exclusive ISR (Inverter Spike Resistant) magnet wire, making them up to 100 times more resistant to transient voltage spikes, high frequencies, and short rise-time pulses commonly produced by inverters. This results in all Super-Es being 'inverter ready'. These motors, with improved insulation materials, can withstand peak voltages up to 1600 volts peak for extended reliability. Every Super-E motor is also balanced to Baldor's own very high standard. This results in fewer mechanical stresses, particularly on motor bearings, extending life. Baldor is so confident in the design and build quality of these motors that it offers them with a three year warranty.

Baldor offers a free advisory service to help users make a transition to higher efficiency motors, wherever a motor replaces an existing, less-efficient type.

Example payback calculation
As an example of the potential savings, if an existing IE1 (CEMEP Eff 2), 22kW, 4-pole motor operating continuously at full load is replaced with a Baldor IE3-rated Super-E Metric motor, additional energy savings would repay the capital investment in less than four years. This is calculated using Baldor motor prices as at June 2009, and using very conservative utility costs of (UK pounds) £0.05 per kWh. The payback period drops to less than 2.5 years if a more realistic £0.08 per kWh figure is used. In the UK currently, the reality is rates approaching £0.10 per kWh. By 2015, these rates could be much higher than this. With a rate of £0.10 per kWh a motor would pay back the capital investment in under two years - allowing users to repay a motor's capital investment cost at least three times over by the EU's 2015 date. These example calculations assume that the IE1 motor has an efficiency level of 89.9%, and contrasts this with an equivalent Baldor Super-E Metric motor offering a 93.6% efficiency.

To help users understand the difference that higher efficiency can make, Baldor offers Windows software called Baldor's Energy Savings Tool, or BE$T, together with informative articles. The program automatically selects the equivalent Baldor motor from the description entered and may be downloaded at http://www.baldor.com/support/energy_savings.asp.

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