Electric Motors Programme

In 2006, the Commission initiated a wide-ranging study of electricity efficiency opportunities from electric motors. From the results of that work and the KEMA electricity efficiency potentials study, the Commission developed an electric motors programme. This programme focuses on the opportunities for efficient electricity savings from accelerating the rate of replacement of the existing stock of New Zealand in-service three-phase motors with ones that comply with the 2006 minimum energy performance standard (MEPS 2006).

The Electric Motors Bounty Scheme, which provides a direct incentive to motor users to upgrade their electric motors, is a key component of that programme.

Under the bounty scheme, motor users are paid for the removal (and permanent disabling) of lower-efficiency three-phase motors that are replaced with MEPS 2006 compliant motors. The scheme is for three-phase motors between 22 kW and 265 kW in size that meet certain criteria. Further details of the scheme are available at http://motorsystems.electricitycommission.govt.nz/bs-main.asp.

Three other components of the electric motors programme are:

• A (completed) motor efficiency testing programme undertaken in conjunction with EECA to determine the extent to which the main suppliers of new three-phase motors in New Zealand are complying with the MEPS standards;
  
• The development of a Motor (Replacement v Repair) Policy Development Guide to assist managers develop site-wide policies to simplify decision-making on the replacement, compared to retention and repair, of three-phase electric motors in their businesses; and
• Providing assistance to the motor rewind industry to develop and introduce a Motor Rewind Workshop Quality Scheme that will assist the rewind industry to maintain the efficiency of repaired motors and give motor users confidence in accredited motor rewinders. A Request for Proposals for development of the proposed scheme was issued in September 2008.