When it comes to costs in water-related sectors such as water treatment, wastewater management and irrigation, the energy expense of pumping is a huge factor.

For some water utilities 95% of their budget is consumed by electrical costs. According to Water Online, USA water utilities consume 56 billion kilowatts costing $4 billion per annum. This equates to between 3- 4% of the entire country’s electricity consumption.

Another large pumping-related energy user in the water industry is irrigation.

As an example, analysis of data from the 2008 USDA Farm and Ranch Irrigation Survey showed that the average energy use for irrigating crops in Nebraska alone would be equivalent to about 340 million gallons of diesel fuel annually if all pumps were powered with diesel engines.

According to a report by the New South Wales Farmers’ Association, audits of Australia irrigation farms have found that energy used in irrigation can account for upwards of 50% of a total farm energy bill. Although these statistics may seem staggering, there are strategies to reduce these costs.

We are quite possibly witnessing the beginning of an electric motor market boom as stricter energy efficiency regulations are being rolled out around the world. The higher energy efficient standards were predicted to cause worldwide overhauls of newer motor technology, resulting in significant market growth over the coming years.

According to a market report published by Credence Research “Electric Motors Market – Growth, Share, Opportunities, Competitive Analysis, and Forecast 2015 – 2022,” the global electric motors market is expected surpass US$ 135 Bn by 2022.

IE3 motors are now mandatory in Europe for new installations between 7.5 kW and 375 kW, in line with many other jurisdictions in the world.

At the recent energy efficiency in motor-driven systems (Eemods) conference in Finland the new regulations were presented as necessary to help meet the EC’s 2030 target of cutting greenhouse gas emission levels by 40% compared to 1990 levels, as well as cutting energy consumption by 27% by that date. These proposed changes could affect up to 89 million motors and more than four million variable-speed drives sold in the EU every year.

The new EC regulations are expected to increase growth for the replacement market. The rise of industrialisation and the construction industry is predicted to contribute to an increase in the growth of premium efficiency motors.

With an estimated 80% of electric motor applications being fixed speed processes perhaps it isn’t surprising that variable speed drives are consistently being misapplied. Many motor driven systems are being designed with VSDs to add flexibility that isn’t needed, compromising efficiency while adding to capital and operating costs.

US-based JDA consulting engineers (now part of global consulting firm Exp Global.) offer an interesting discussion of this phenomenon in a blog on the Staticworx website. “As JDA's team commissions large, complex mechanical plants, we find more systems where the VSD is practically abandoned in place. Rather than providing the precise control of flow and pressure or reducing energy consumption and demand, the VSDs appear to be "stuck" at a single speed.”

The United Kingdom's Department for Transport this week unveiled a new strategy for the country that featured proposals for encouraging driverless cars, drones and even commercial spaceports.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin was quoted as saying "Driverless cars and commercial space flight might seem like something science fiction, but the economic potential of the new technology is huge and I am determined the UK gets maximum benefit."

In the world of industrial motor control we need to deal with fact more than science fiction, but the pressure to automate and innovate is relentless. These trends, embodied in the concept of Industry 4.0, means we have to reimagine the role of established technologies in industrial applications, and that includes the application of soft starters.

The attendance of US President Barack Obama at the opening of Hannover Messe yesterday has focussed attention on global industry.

“As President I have worked to make sure that we are sustaining the spirit of innovation in the United States,” Mr Obama said at the launch event, representing the USA, which is the “Partner Country” for Hannover Messe 2016. Over 5,000 businesses, including AuCom, are exhibiting their products and services at Hannover.

As pioneers and market leading innovators in soft start, AuCom are continually striving to be at the cutting edge of motor control technology. From their beginnings in 1978, to today, with expert teams located around the globe, the soft start specialists have maintained an unwavering passion for delivering the absolute best fixed speed motor control solutions.

The global market for soft starters is tipped to experience strong growth from 2015-2020, according to a report published by global research firm Markets and Markets.

Amidst soft global economic growth, the soft starter market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7%, from $US1.2 billion in 2015 to $US1.7 billion by 2020, concludes the Markets and Markets study “Motor Soft Starter Market”, available online for purchase here.

Markets and Markets point to an increase in development projects in sectors like oil & gas, water & wastewater, mining industries and power infrastructure. “Increasing acceptance of motor control and protection across (these) industries has driven the demand for motor soft starters around the world,” says the report.

About NHP

Established in 1968, NHP has established itself as one of Australasia’s top electrical engineering providers. It has grown to a team of more than 800 people, spread across 49 locations.