THE 2008 Hannover Trade Fair will feature an exhibition catering specifically to energy efficiency, advice, techniques and technology.
The Energy Efficiency Tunnel will showcase several systems in an interactive setting. Motor and drive efficiency technology will make up an important part of these.
Researchers say there is technology available allowing the lifetime costs of electric motors to be cut by up to 90%. More efficient motors and drives will also help reduce industrial carbon dioxide emissions.
Dr Reinhard Hüppe, the automation products manager of the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, says the technology is underused.
Only 12% of the current 30m drive units installed in Germany use energy-saving speed controls. He says, there would be benefits if 50% of the drives were altered with this technology.
He claims such a move could save 22b KW hours of electricity each year, the energy production equivalent of nine 400MW power plants.
He says with the average cost of power at 8c per KW hour, the industry could make annual savings of at least €1.75B.
Werner Blass, manager of the association’s electric drive division, claims it is possible to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in Germany alone by 17m tons if the drives perform to their full potential.