In this article, feasible minimum limits for IE4 class are analyzed, taking into account the estimated efficiency limits and rated efficiency for emergent or commercially best available line-start PMSM technologies. The presented results can be useful to set up future international standard super-premium or IE4-class levels/limits. The practicability and technical limits associated with the IE4-class efficiency levels are addressed, taking into account technical and economical limitations. It is expected that advanced technologies will enable manufacturers to design motors for the IE4-class efficiency levels, with mechanical dimensions compatible with the existing IMs of lower efficiency classes (e.g., flanges, shaft heights, or frame sizes as defined in standards EN 50347 and NEMA MG1). NEMA frames sizes are larger than the IEC frame sizes, allowing the use of more active materials. In addition, 60-Hz operation enables higher power density and higher efficiency levels with the same frame sizes.

Electronic variable-speed drives (VSDs) can produce large energy and environmental savings in variable-load variable-speed applications when compared with other conventional technologies. There are a very large number of applications (e.g., fluid motion, materials handling, and materials processing) which would benefit, both in terms of process improvement and energy savings, through the use of speed control. Previous studies have shown that the variable-flow fluid motion applications (pumps, fans, and compressors) have the largest savings potential. In this paper, an ecodesign analysis of two different technologies for the flow regulation in pumping systems - constant-speed pump with an output throttle valve (motor directly fed from the line) and variable-speed pump without an output throttle valve (motor fed by a variable-speed drive) - is presented. A European standard methodology for the ecodesign analysis of energy-using products is used in this paper. This paper includes a comparative analysis of the environmental impacts and life-cycle costs. The identified large environmental benefits on top of the energy savings provide a strong argument for an increased use of VSDs. The presented analysis is of major importance for industrial electronics manufacturers, designers, and users, widening their awareness to the importance of taking into account the energy and environmental issues when evaluating different system design options.

The use-phase cost of most industrial electric motors, namely the consumed electrical energy, dominates by far their overall life-cycle cost. Because electric motors use about 70% of the total industrial electricity use, they present attractive opportunities to save a huge amount of electricity in a cost- effective way, and contribute to mitigate climate change. The lack of global efficiency classes has prevented the large-scale adoption of high efficiency motors in most countries around the world. This paper addresses the most relevant electric motor efficiency-related international standards, including minimum efficiency requirements and a new efficiency classification standard, which have a profound impact on motor market transformation, being a powerful tool to reduce electric motor systems consumption. Moreover, the final results and conclusions of a European study to identify and recommend ways to improve the life-cycle environmental performance of electric motors at their design phase are presented, focusing life- cycle cost assessment of standard and best available electric motor technologies. It was found that if high efficiency or premium class motors replace standard efficiency class motors, significant reductions in the environmental impact will be achieved.

Energy efficiency is one of the most powerful strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change by reducing energy demand, which in turn reduces the emissions of Green House Gases (GHG), as well as reducing the burden on the supply side renewable generation expansion. Because electric motors systems represent such a large share of the overall electricity consumption (over 50%), large savings potential could be made available by the use of energy-efficient motor systems both in new installations and by accelerating the replacement of old inefficient motors. Since electric motors are very reliable, their lifetime is long (according to recent studies it may exceed 20 years) which translates into a very inefficient existing stock despite worldwide policy efforts. This paper analyzes the current efficiency of the installed stock and the causes for its low efficiency, possible policy options to increase its the efficiency, the role of new technologies and improvements possible by targeting the entire motor system at the time of motor replacement. The paper presents an innovative analysis of the estimated impact of increasing the uptake of high-efficiency motors and motor systems; effective policies could translate into 100 TWh/year in the European Union if additional measures, such as addressing oversizing, proper controls (VSDs) and digitisation, are also implemented. If similar measures were adopted globally, the savings triggered could be at least tenfold reaching over 1000 TWh/year.