Review of Upcoming Changes to Global Motor Efficiency Regulations
Robert Boteler
Member, IEEE
Emerson Motor Company
8100 W. Florissant
St Louis, MO 63136
USA
Abstract – On December 19, 2007, the Energy
Efficiency and Security Act of 2007 was signed by
President Bush. This law mandates upgraded electric
motor efficiency beginning in 2010. Canada is expected
to follow with a similar requirement beginning January
2011. Other countries are also mandating MEPS
(Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards) for
electric motors.
In response to a need for leadership in the international
motor efficiency arena, the National Electrical
Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has responded by
creating a new NEMA Premium® standard for the 50 Hz
market. This paper will discuss the benefits of global
NEMA efficiency standards and how end-users can
now specify NEMA Premium motors as components of
equipment built for use on their 50 Hz grid. The
standard builds on the already highly accepted 60Hz
standard that was established in 2001. The paper will
include performance, test and construction
considerations that were necessary to optimize motor
features and efficiency in a 50 Hz application. This
paper will also provide a status of NEMA Premium
sales in the previous four years and joint activities with
the Standards for Energy Efficiency of Electric Motor
Systems (SEEEM) initiative.
Index Terms – Motors, NEMA Premium, Energy
efficiency.
I. ENERGY EFFICIENCY HISTORY
Beginning in the early 1980’s motor efficiency levels and
scope of covered product has continued to grow. No
standards for efficiency levels were in place until energy
efficient levels were defined by NEMA in the early 90’s. In
2001, the NEMA Premium efficiency standard was
established.
In 2007 a significant step was initiated to begin
positioning for the move to the next level. NEMA’s MG
(Motor Generator) section began discussions with ACEEE
[American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy] to
determine what manufacturers, environmental groups,
utilities and state legislators would consider as the next
logical step for motor efficiency. Several states were known
to be in the process of drafting motor legislation for
products outside of the existing EPAct regulations. The
voluntary NEMA Premium adoption rate by the “early
adoptor” appeared to have plateaued at about 25% of the
units sold in the US. To rely on purely voluntary measures
John Malinowski
Senior Member, IEEE
Baldor Electric Company
P.O. Box 2400
Fort Smith, AR 72902
USA
for adoption growth in the future would require an
increased effort including more resources to educated and
demonstrate efficiency values at the point of purchase.
With over 1.5 million poly-phase motor units being sold in
the US market each year, the logical next step to increased
usage of NEMA Premium products was a progression from
voluntary to regulation over time. The NEMA MG section
members working with American Council for an Energy
Efficiency Economy (ACEEE) and the Alliance to Save
Energy created a plan to be presented to the US congress.
The fundamental test, performance, labeling and
enforcement procedures are all based on existing EPAct 92
regulations and Congressional Federal Register [CFR 10
part 431]. This process allows manufacturers and motors
users to add additional product categories and NEMA
Premium performance levels without a prolonged rule
making process necessary for amendments to the actual
regulations.
II. PRESENT US STANDARDS AND PRACTICES
As of 2008, electric motor efficiency in the US is still
under the regulation of the Energy Policy Act of 1992
(EPAct) that went into effect October 1997. This mandates
efficiency on general-purpose three phase motors 1 -200
Hp to be compliant with NEMA MG-1, table 12-11 for
Energy-Efficient motors. Canadian regulations are similar
to the US regulations.
Motors with efficiency higher than the Energy Efficient
models are available and made to comply with NEMA MG-
1, Table 12-12 and 12-13 for NEMA Premium® efficient
motors 1 – 500 Hp. The NEMA Premium motors are 2-3
efficiency bands above those in table 12-11.
Depending on the cost of electricity, the NEMA Premium
motor can pay for its additional cost over the energy
efficient motor within 2-4 years. In an effort to increase
energy efficiency, many electric utilities are subsidizing the
adoption of NEMA Premium motors through rebates in
order to reduce payback time.
III. ENERGY INDEPENDENCE & SECURITY ACT OF 2007
(EISA)
Step one of the proposed changes will include the
addition of seven product categories not in the original
EPAct 92 regulation to meet MG-1, table 12-11 [energy
efficient levels]. EISA also moves the present 1-200 horse
power covered product to meet NEMA Premium levels
[MG-1, table 12-12]. In addition low voltage general-
purpose design “B” motors from 201 to 500 horsepower are
proposed to meet MG-1, table 12-11 minimum efficiency
levels.
Added motor types [MG-1, table 12-11]
• U-Frame Motors
• Design C Motors
• Close-coupled pump motors
• Footless motors
• Vertical solid shaft normal thrust (tested in a
horizontal configuration)
• 8-pole motors (900 rpm)
• All poly-phase motors with voltages up to 600
volts other than 230/460 volts (200 and 575 V
were not covered in EPAct 92)
Motors with two-digit frame designations (56) are not
affected by EPAct or EISA. IEC metric frame motors from
IEC 90 frame and larger must continue to comply with
EPAct and EISA efficiency.
The actual timing of future implementation has been
proposed to be 36 months from the enactment of revised
energy legislation. Allowing 36 month provides the
manufacturers the necessary time to make adjustments to
motor designs, factory equipment and supply of raw
material to accommodate requirements of the revised
energy requirements.
IV. GLOBALIZATION OF STANDARDS AND TESTING
In 2005, Paulo Bertoldi at the European Commission
Joint research Center initiated SEEEM (Standards for
Energy Efficiency of Electric Motor Systems) with the goal
to establish common performance standards globally.
These standards were also to include testing methodology.
In 2008, motor test standards have been harmonized
between IEEE (112b), CSA (390) and IEC (60034-2-1).
Efficiency standards still differ between NEMA and IEC but
work continues. IEC 60034-30 now specifies new efficiency
levels for motors as follows:
IEC Designation Similar to Efficiency
IE1
IE2 Energy Efficient Lowest
IE3 Premium To
IE4 Above premium Highest
Due to the design of present IEC motors, it is difficult for
the manufacturers to reach efficiencies higher than IE2
without significant electrical redesign and/or usage of larger
frame sizes to reach higher efficiency levels. IE3 is not
supported by leading European manufacturers because of
the costs to retool and that it would “irritate the end-users
and seriously disturb the success of the currently taken
energy saving measures”. The European motor
organization CEMEP (Comité Européen de Constructeurs
de Machines Electriques et d'Electronique de Puissance)
agrees with the measure to adopt IE2 as MEPS in 2011. A
proposal to increase efficiency using IE2 motors with
adjustable speed drives is currently under study in lieu of
IE3. IE3 would become a “Self-regulation of the class IE3,
which means the industry commits itself on voluntary basis
to develop, to launch and to monitor IE3 motors in the
market.”
It should be noted that IE4 efficiency is not for a motor
alone but is likely to be from a technology other than an AC
induction motor. This could be a permanent magnet rotor or
switched reluctance motor, both requiring a drive for
operation.
V. GLOBAL MEPS
MEPS for IEC motors are a relatively new concept.
There are presently no mandatory motor efficiency
standards for Europe, but talks indicate they may be
adopted by 2012. MEPS have existed for many years in
Australia / New Zealand and they are very aggressive to
raise motor efficiency. AS/NZS 1359.5-2000 has raised the
minimum level to the equivalent of US EPAct motor
efficiency. Table A-1 shows the global usage of MEPS.
Table A-2 shows global MEPS and the expected
efficiency levels and timing for adoption.
VI. SAVING ESTIMATE
ACEEE estimates that the savings attributable to these
joint recommendations to be 8 billion kilowatt hours by
2030, with an annual net energy cost savings to consumers
of almost $500 million, while the tax provision would result
in an addition 0.7 billion kilowatt hours and $40 million in
savings. [2]
VII. THE NEW IEEE 841 STANDARD
Recent revisions completed in 2008 raise the efficiency
levels for IEEE 841-2009, IEEE Standard for Petroleum
and Chemical Industry – Premium Efficiency Severe
Duty Totally Enclosed Fan-Cooled (TEFC) Squirrel-Cage
Induction Motors - Up to and Including 370 KW (500 hp)
to NEMA Premium efficiency for 2, 4 and 6 pole motors
and one band above MG-1, table 12-11 for 8-pole
motors. Most motor manufacturers were already
supplying IEEE 841 motors to these efficiency levels or
above.
Most forest products / pulp and paper manufacturers
who specify severe duty motors often purchase these with
NEMA Premium efficiency. With EISA taking effect
December 2011, they will see the efficiency of these
motors raised to premium levels and the lower efficient
EPAct versions no longer available for 1 – 200 HP sizes.
This should be no change for users already buying
premium motors but it will be a change for those only
specifying EPAct level motors.
VIII. CONCLUSIONS
Raising the motor efficiency levels in the US to NEMA
premium and adding the seven product categories and
higher horsepower motors not included in the original
EPAct 92 regulation should bring about a refocus in poly-
phase motor application. The present user is faced with
several decisions when faced with a motor replacement or
purchase. When selecting a motor for new equipment the
original equipment manufacturer must today decide which
efficiency level to provide his customer. The new legislation
will remove this decision and force the optimum motor
efficiency to be used. This consolidates the motor selection
and re-focuses the equipment designer’s energy
considerations on the overall system efficiency, giving rise
to greater attention to system opportunities for savings.
Motor purchasers will be limited to NEMA Premium level
efficient product in the future thus moving their decision to
focus on the most economical choice between repair and
replacement of a failed motor.
Consolidation of products in the market will add to
overall availability as the motor distribution channel moves
from two efficiency product levels to one. Greater
inventories nearer to the end users’ point of purchase will
have a positive impact on his replace vs. repair decision by
providing quicker response to motor replacement, further
increasing the use of premium efficient products and
reducing green house gasses.
Implementation of the recommended changes to EPAct
92 is another step to further reduce user concern and
confusion about their poly-phase motor management
decisions. Using regulations and NEMA standards jointly
the members of the NEMA Motor Generator section and
ACEEE have developed a very positive plan to improve
motor efficiency performance standards that will benefit all.
References
[1] NEMA TechGEN906. National Electrical
Manufacturers Association, 1300 N 17th Street,
Suite 1752, Roslyn, VA, June 2006
[2] American Council for an Energy Efficiency
Economy (ACEEE), Neal Elliot, 529 14th St. N.W.,
Washington DC, 20045, March 2007
[3] Standards for Energy Efficiency of Electric Motors
in Europe (SEEEM), Zurich, Switzerland, October
2007
[4] IEC 60034-30 Rotating electrical machines - Part
30: Efficiency classes of single speed, three-
phase, cage-induction motors (IE-code) –
International Electrotechnical Committee Central
Office, 3, rue de Varembé, CH-1211 Geneva 20,
Switzerland
[5] IEC 60034-2-1 Rotating electrical machines –Part
2-1: Standard methods for determining losses
and efficiency from tests (excluding machines for
traction vehicles)- International Electrotechnical
Committee Central Office, 3, rue de Varembé, CH-
1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
[6] IEEE Std. 841-2008, “IEEE Standard for
Petroleum and Chemical Industry – Severe Duty
Totally Enclosed Fan-Cooled (TEFC) Squirrel
Cage Induction Motors – Up to and Including 370
kW (500 hp)”, Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers, 445 Hoes Lane, Piscataway, NJ
IX. Authors’ Information
Robert Boteler is Director of Marketing for the
Industrial Motors Division of Emerson Motors. Mr.
Boteler is Chairman of the National Electrical
Manufacturers Association’s (NEMA) Energy
Management Taskforce, instrumental in writing the
electric motor section of the Energy Policy Act of
1992, works with the U.S. Department of Energy on
the Energy Policy Act. Mr. Boteler has spoken to
various audiences in the U.S. Asia and Europe
regarding the benefits of premium efficient motors,
initiatives that promote motor efficiency and
applications where premium efficient motors may be
fully utilized to conserve energy
John Malinowski is the Senior Product Manager for
AC Motors at Baldor Electric Company in Fort Smith;
AR. Mr. Malinowski is presently the Chairman of
NEMA 1 MG Section, Senior Member of IEEE and
member of the IEEE Industry Application Society. Mr.
Malinowski is a member of the IEEE Petroleum and
Chemical Industry Committee, Secretary for the
Chemical subcommittee and serves on several
Standards Working Groups. He is also a member of
the IEEE Pulp & Paper Industry Committee, and is
past Chairman of the Drives & Control Systems Sub-
committee. He is Baldor’s representative to the Motor
Decisions Matter program, Energy Star Partners and
Standards for Energy Efficiency of Electric Motors in
Europe (SEEEM). Mr. Malinowski has published
several articles on motor efficiency, maintenance and
application.
 X. APPENDIX

Table A1 Global MEPS Adoption

Global Electricity South Africa Indonesia Pakistan

Thailand Bangladesh

No MEPS 21% India

United States of
Russia America

Japan

Korea, South
MEPS 47%
Coming MEPS 19%
China
EU 25
Canada
New Zealand
Brazil
Israel Costa Rica
Taiwan Mexico Australia

Source – SEEEM, October 2007

Table A2 – Global MEPS Motor Efficiency Levels and Anticipated Adoption Dates as of October 2007

Efficiency Levels Efficiency Classes Testing Standard MEPS Adopted in

IEC 60034-30 IEC 60034-2-1 These Countries
Global 2008 Including stray load
losses 2008
Standard IE1 All Brazil
China
Costa Rica
Israel
Taiwan
High Efficiency IE2 USA
Canada
Mexico Australia
New Zealand
Brazil 2009
China 2011
Europe 2012
Korea 2008
Premium Efficiency IE3 USA 2011
Above-Premium IE4
Efficiency
Bold signifies currently adopted

Source: SEEEM, 2007