Motor efficiency: NEMA expands energy saving program to 50 Hz

By Control Engineering Staff

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Rosslyn, VA —Motors globally will be more efficient thanks to a new energy-efficiency standard from NEMA , the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, for the 50 Hz motor. The 50 Hz standard thus joins the 60 Hz motor as part of the NEMA Premium motor program , and will help North American machine builders, end-users, and system integrators that work globally.

The NEMA Premium Motors 50 Hz Standard, expected during early spring 2007, will allow the manufacturers that participate in the NEMA Premium Motors Program to manufacture and market NEMA Premium motors in 60 Hz and 50 Hz configurations worldwide. It will also allow manufacturers of 50 Hz integral motors to license the NEMA Premium brand, promoting energy-efficiency brand.

NEMA Premium Motors are recognized as the leading energy-efficient integral motors in North America. Other standards organizations have widely adopted or mirrored the NEMA MG 1 standard (from NEMA's Motor and Generator Section) for 60 Hz motors. The 50 Hz tables added to MG 1 are also expected to be widely accepted, NEMA says.

NEMA launched its Premium Efficient Electric Motor program in 2001. At the outset of the program, it was estimated that in its first 10 years, the program would save enough electricity to serve as the functional equivalent to equal keeping 16 million cars off the road. The program has exceeded expectations through marketing efforts by the NEMA Motor and Generator Section, and cooperative efforts with Motor Decisions Matter (MDM), a program run by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and others. Many electric utilities recognize NEMA Premium and offer rebates for specifying and installing NEMA Premium motors. The members of the Motor and Generator Section represent more than 80% of U.S. production and sales of electric motors.

NEMA Premium efficient motors exceed the minimum energy-efficiency standards required by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The minimum standards imposed on certain 1-200 hp general-purpose integral motors are based on NEMA standards.

The Energy Efficiency in Motor Driven Systems (EEMODS) '07 conference in Beijing, China, June 10-13, will include a paper highlighting the NEMA Premium program. The EEMODS conference comes at a time when the world in general—and the Chinese in particular—continues to search for energy-efficient products. The NEMA office in Beijing will extend invitations to attend the conference to Chinese officials who show vital interest in energy-efficient motor design and systems. NEMA members are also encouraged to attend. Register for the conference at www.eemods.org .

—Edited by Mark T. Hoske , editor in chief,
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