2050 Partners, along with a coalition of manufacturers, utilities, and energy efficiency advocates, has pioneered a multi-year research initiative focused on reshaping motor and drive efficiency standards. Led by Associate Technical Director Lily Baldewicz, the collaboration represents a significant advancement in motor testing procedures and efficiency requirements. Lily supported two presentations at EEMODS24: “Coalition Development of the NEMA PI 2024 Standard” (as supporting author) and “Validation Research on IEC 61800-9-2 and 60034-2-3” (as the lead author). These efforts, which involve testing products from multiple manufacturers at several test laboratories, aim to drive policy change by improving how current Department of Energy (DOE) test procedures capture motor system efficiency. Test data will also be used to advocate for more effective industry standards based on increasing the opportunities to effectively pair motors with appropriate controls. Here, we explore the project’s goals, key findings, and the anticipated future impact of this groundbreaking work.

The primary goal of the project is to improve test procedures and generate efficiency recommendations for electric motors. We hope to demonstrate potential energy savings across different motor types through the use of advanced motor controls or drives. Unlike current motor test procedures and standards, which compare like-for-like motor products (for example, comparing a single-speed motor with another single-speed motor), the new test procedures would allow comparison across motor types to capture the potential energy efficiencies from selecting and tuning the motor for the specific application. By developing a test procedure supported by a robust, independently validated data set, the coalition seeks to influence the DOE’s regulatory framework and push for standards that more accurately represent motor performance in practice. This recommended test method was envisioned, developed, reviewed, and has now been published as the ANSI/NEMA 10011:2024 standard. Ultimately, these improved standards have the potential to lead to greater energy savings, lower operational costs, and significant economic benefits for US consumers.

Efficient motor operation conserves energy, reduces operating costs, and reduces environmental impact. Current DOE standards provide minimal information to compare the efficiency of different motor design types. This results in motor customers having insufficient information to make informed choices about which motors to purchase and how to best use them to meet operational needs while reducing energy use. The coalition’s findings demonstrate that more tailored and technologically aligned standards could reduce consumer costs and reduce energy consumption by up to 50 Quadrillion BTUs through 2050. For comparison, the DOE Final Rule for Electric Motors enacting the NEMA Premium motor efficiency requirement in 2016 saved US consumers an estimated 7.0 Quadrillion BTUs through a 30 year period, amounting to consumer savings of $28.8 billion dollars.

The international community’s calculation methods and regulations, such as EU Ecodesign 2019/1781 already reflect some of these considerations, so this project also helps bridge gaps between U.S. and global practices, encouraging international adoption and consistency.

The research revealed several insights that could reshape the industry. For instance, default settings used in international drive efficiency calculation methods emerged as a significant issue, showing a substantial gap between actual and calculated efficiencies. As a result, the coalition worked through a number of recommended guidance points for using the international calculation methods to ensure the calculation approach would yield reasonably similar results to a tested motor and drive combination.

The coalition’s recommendations are shaping new standards that provide more accurate efficiency data and help streamline production processes for manufacturers. These changes will hopefully spur further collaboration with Canada and Mexico, promoting a more unified North American approach to motor efficiency. 

Looking ahead, the coalition intends to continue its work, with an evergreen committee that will adapt to ongoing technological advancements and industry needs. Phase 2 of data collection for the Power Index (NEMA 10011) Validation Lab Test Project is planned, with anticipated completion in early 2025, which will further validate and expand upon current findings. This phase will support voluntary incentive programs and support the development of new motor and drive labeling systems, making it easier for manufacturers to adopt these new standards and for consumers to understand motor efficiencies.

By 2050, the coalition aims to save 50 Quadrillion BTUs, of which 8 Quadrillion ($20 billion consumer savings) have already been negotiated through this coalition’s 2022-2025 efforts and advocacy in the U.S. alone. As the coalition’s findings continue to shape DOE standards, the energy and financial savings for both industry and consumers are expected to multiply, marking a substantial contribution to sustainability and energy conservation.