ABB India’s IEC low voltage (LV) motors business has achieved a remarkable milestone in energy conservation. Over the past five years, the installed base of these motors has contributed to annual energy savings exceeding 500 gigawatt hours (GWh) for Indian industries. This is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of the northeastern Indian state of Sikkim.
With rising awareness of energy efficiency, tier 2, 3, and 4 cities such as Ahmedabad, Indore, Raipur, and Jamshedpur are increasingly adopting high-efficiency motors across various industries.
Significant Adoption of Energy-Efficient Motors in 2023
In 2023, ABB India’s IEC LV motors saw notable progress in the adoption of energy-efficient motors, with approximately 50% of orders being attributed to the supply of higher efficiency IE3 and IE4 motors. The sale of IE4 motors witnessed an impressive growth, with over 100% year-on-year increase. This surge in demand for IE4 motors not only contributes to substantial energy savings but also aligns with ABB’s mission to enhance performance while minimizing environmental impact.
“This shift towards advanced motor technologies highlights the growing preference for sustainable solutions in the Indian market. ABB India’s IEC LV Motors are not just driving industrial processes, but also revolutionizing energy savings across Indian industries. We are committed to providing innovative motion solutions that help industries achieve their sustainability goals. The significant energy savings realized through our high-efficiency motors are a testament to the value we bring to our customers and fostering environmental sustainability,” said Sanjeev Arora, President – Motion Business, ABB India.
Regulatory Changes and Industry Impact
Since 2018, IE2 efficiency has been the minimum efficiency standard mandated (Minimum Energy Performance Standards – MEPS) for low-voltage motors in India. This regulatory change has spurred the adoption of higher efficiency motors, such as IE3 and IE4, by Indian industries and MSMEs. However, the older installed base of low-efficiency motors remains a significant roadblock to energy savings. Replacing old or rewound motors with energy-efficient ones can lead to substantial energy conservation.
IE3 motors have approximately 20% lower losses than IE2 motors, and IE4 motors have about 20% lower losses than IE3 motors. Despite this, IE3 and IE4 motors make up only about 18% of total motor production. Transitioning to higher-efficiency motors is crucial; replacing IE2 with IE3 as MEPS could save over 1 TWh annually, while replacing IE2 with IE4 could save up to 2.1 TWh. This widespread adoption is essential for India to achieve its net-zero goals, as over 70% of electricity consumed by industries comes from motor-driven systems.
ABB India’s Commitment to Sustainability
ABB India is at the forefront of driving the adoption of high-efficiency motors, which are crucial in the global energy efficiency movement. ABB offers a wide range of high-efficiency motors, including those that meet IE3, IE4, and IE5 efficiency standards. These motors are designed to deliver significant energy savings and reduce operational costs for industries, ensuring maximum energy efficiency in their operations.
Sustainability is at the core of ABB’s motor business operations in India, exemplified through several impactful initiatives. ABB India’s motor factories in Bengaluru and Faridabad are green certified by IGBC under the green factory building rating system, ensuring all operations meet stringent environmental standards. The business has achieved a notable 31% reduction in scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions compared to its 2019 baseline. Furthermore, the motor facilities have installed in-house solar panels and are procuring solar power from third parties to meet their RE100 goal (100% renewable electricity). In waste management, the business has successfully diverted 97% of its total waste away from landfills and has reduced water consumption by 6% compared to the 2019 baseline. These efforts showcase ABB India’s commitment to integrating sustainability into its core business practices, contributing significantly to environmental preservation and resource efficiency.
Supporting Local Economy and Enhancing Productivity
ABB India leverages its local capabilities, expertise, and skilled workforce to manufacture high-quality LV motors domestically. This Make-in-India approach ensures reliable and efficient products tailored to Indian customers’ needs, with quicker delivery times. By producing locally, ABB India contributes to the local economy and enhances productivity and operational efficiency across various industries.
ABB Motion, a global leader in motors and drives, is committed to accelerating a more productive and sustainable future. The company innovates and pushes the boundaries of technology to contribute to energy-efficient, decarbonizing, and circular solutions for customers, industries, and societies. With digitally enabled drives, motors, and services, ABB supports customers and partners in achieving better performance, safety, and reliability.
ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered, and operated.
