MV Titanium , the world ’ s first mediumvoltage , speed-controlled motor , will help energy-intensive sectors such as water , power and mining reduce their carbon footprint , says Heikki Vepsäläinen , Division President , ABB Large Motors and Generators .

Heikki Vepsäläinen

Division President ABB Large Motors and Generators

There has never been a greater imperative for industry to be more productive while using less energy . In the drive towards Net Zero , energy efficiency has been a frequent subject of discussion , with the International Energy Agency ( IEA ) considering it to be the “ first fuel ”. Industrial electric motors are a key target area for energy efficiency improvements . There are more than 300 million systems currently in operation . Yet despite only a tiny fraction of this number being large megawatt-scale motors , they are responsible for turning around 10 % of the world ’ s electricity into motion .

Energy-intensive industries like water , power , processing , mining , and cement all rely on large medium-voltage ( MV ) motors for their mission-critical equipment , such as fans , pumps , and compressors . Enhancing their efficiency could lead to a significant reduction in emissions , thereby helping these industries decarbonise more effectively .

Energy efficiency solutions , such as operating motors with a variable speed drive ( VSD ), have gained significant traction in low

voltage applications . But large motors have so far been left behind due to the technology ’ s initial cost and complexity at the MV level . Only 10-15 % of large motors are estimated to have a drive installed .

We have addressed this by developing the MV Titanium concept : the world ’ s first speed-controlled medium-voltage motor in the 1 – 5-megawatt ( MW ) range , in one easy-to-specify-and-install package .

Potential to displace 1,000 coalfired power stations Across various industries , the new concept promises energy savings of up to 40 % for pumps , compressors , fans , and other applications . For operators , the payback period is highly compelling , typically ranging from just one to three years , making it an attractive investment .

In fact , if the entire global installed base of approximately one million large motors was retrofitted with MV Titanium , it would be the equivalent of taking just over 1,000 coal-fired power stations offline .