From laggard to world leader – the role of policies in the EU motors and drives market transformation

摘要

The importance of motors as a major consumer of electricity inindustry and service buildings has been recognised for a longtime. Several studies showed the very large energy saving potentialfor these products. However, in the year 2000 the EUmotor market was dominated by low efficiency motors (IE0represented about 70 % of the sales). The paper addresses theevolution and impact of motor policies in the EU.After a period of Voluntary Agreement with limited impact,the Commission Regulation 640/2009 was adopted, whichspecifies requirements regarding Ecodesign of electrical motorsand the use of Variable Speed Drives (VSD), followingthe first EuP study on motors (Lot 11) which highlighted theimportance of introducing Minimum Efficiency PerformanceStandards (MEPS) relating to these products in Europe.A new study (Lot 30) has since then been carried out toevaluate the possibility of extending the scope of the Regulationto motors outside the current power range and to technologiesother than three-phase induction motors. Electroniccontrollers, such as VSDs and soft-starters were also subject ofthe study.Lot 30 identified a series of policy options that will lead to thereduction of environmental impacts taking into considerationthe Life Cycle Cost and the best available technologies in themarket. Scenario analysis projected the energy and economicsavings for the period of 2013–2030 from each of these options.Six policy options were identified, as well as their possible implementationtimelines. Innovative policies, such as Super-Premiumand VSD MEPS were proposed for the first time makingEurope the leading region in Motor systems regulation.The policy options proposed, while reducing the environmentalimpact of motor systems, will begin to prepare the pathfor the introduction of system oriented policy options, basedon the Extended Product Approach and the standardisationwork being carried out by CENELEC with the EN50598 seriesof standards. The main results of the Lot 30 study are presentedin this paper.