By Ivor Vidjen, Global Head of Strategy & Business Development ABB IEC Low Voltage Motors
Ivor Vidjen
This Earth Day, the theme is “Our Power, Our Planet” — a rallying call to triple global renewable energy capacity and drive urgent progress on climate action.
At ABB, we fully support the expansion of renewables. Solar, wind, and other clean energy technologies are critical to decarbonizing power systems and reducing emissions at scale. But we also believe there’s a vital message that should not be lost in the push for new supply. It’s not all about generating more energy; we must use less of it in the first place.
A megawatt saved is better than a new megawatt generated; the cleanest, cheapest energy is the energy never consumed. So much so that the International Energy Agency calls energy efficiency the “First Fuel” in the transition to Net Zero.
ABB SynRM motor
Electric motors are the workhorses of modern industry, powering pumps, fans, compressors, conveyor belts, and other critical systems. With around 45% of the world’s electricity being consumed by electric motors, improving their efficiency is one of the most impactful ways to reduce global energy use.
A major leap forward in this area comes from hyper-efficiency IE6 synchronous reluctance (SynRM) motors. Going beyond the current IE5 efficiency standard, IE6 motors set a new benchmark for ultra-premium energy performance. They significantly reduce heat losses, extend equipment lifespans, and represent a crucial step toward the highest levels of industrial energy efficiency.
Complementing these motors are variable speed drives (VSDs), which further optimize motor performance by allowing them to operate at exactly the speed required by the application — no more, no less. Without a VSD, motors typically run at full speed regardless of actual demand, leading to substantial energy waste, especially under light loads. Despite the clear efficiency benefits, fewer than 25% of motors in operation today are equipped with VSDs — a global market opportunity left on the table.
By combining hyper-efficient IE6 motors with smart VSD technology, organizations can dramatically reduce their energy consumption, cut operational costs, and move decisively toward a more sustainable future.
ABB IE6 motor graphic
This is where proactive energy efficiency initiatives — especially in industry — can have immediate, tangible impact. Less overall demand makes the transition to clean energy faster and more affordable.
One standout example is our work with Aurubis, Europe’s largest copper producer. Their Pirdop plant in Bulgaria replaced 460 outdated motors with ABB IE4 and IE5 motors along with 300 industrial drives. These ultra-efficient systems are expected to cut energy consumption by 28%, saving an astonishing 25 GWh annually — the equivalent energy required to power more than 6,000 European homes. Importantly, the upgrade will reduce emissions by 12,000 tons of CO₂ per year and pay for itself in just 3.5 years. As emissions regulations tighten across Europe, the Pirdop site is testament to how smart investments in energy efficiency can power competitiveness and sustainability efforts at the same time.
In India, steel manufacturer Real Ispat reduced energy use by over 3 million kWh annually by modernizing its operations with ABB motors and drives, alongside process innovations such as hot charging of billets and using dolochar, unburnt solid waste coal, as a lower-emission fuel source. These measures not only allowed Real Ispat to reinvest energy cost savings into fuelling innovation and growth, but also significantly cut emissions and positioned the business as a sustainability leader in a sector responsible for 7% of global CO₂ emissions. The case study is a prime example of how Indian SMEs can balance business goals with climate responsibility, directly contributing to India’s decarbonization roadmap.
Even in municipal infrastructure, the difference is measurable. In Germany, the central sewage treatment plant in Kulmbach upgraded one of its critical inlet lifting pumps with an ABB IE5 SynRM motor and ACQ580 drive. With round-the-clock operation, even projected 7–10% savings make a significant economic and environmental impact — as well as having real community value. With energy prices escalating and municipalities needing to do more with tighter budgets, energy-efficient technologies like these offer tangible benefits. Less energy used at the pump station means fewer emissions generated at the local power plant, contributing directly to regional climate goals and Germany’s transition to a carbon-neutral economy.
ABB’s IEC LV Motors site in Vaasa
At ABB, we’re also working hard to improve the efficiency and sustainability of our own operations. Across our IEC Low Voltage Motors division, we’ve achieved an 84% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions since 2019. Facilities in Finland, India, and China are deploying rooftop solar, heat recovery, LED lighting, and of course, the same premium motors we offer our customers.
This Earth Day, I invite you to look at energy efficiency not as a compromise, but as a strategic, immediate action. For companies beginning their journey toward decarbonization, upgrading to today’s most efficient motor solutions is a proven way to lower energy intensity, protect margins, and build a foundation for long-term sustainability.
Clean energy is our future. But energy efficiency is how we get there faster. Let’s power the planet more responsibly — by starting with less.
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