New EU rules to boost energy efficiency of electric motors

New EU ecodesign measures for electric motors and variable speed drives enter into force on 1 July 2021, aimed at improving the energy efficiency of these products across the EU. Applicable to AC induction motors* (such as those that can be found in washing machines, air conditioners, or heat pumps and are also commonly used in many types of industrial applications), the new rules update the previous regulation from 2009. The new regulation has a significantly broader scope, covering motors with a power range from 0.12 kW until 1000 kW (relative to the previous 0.75 – 375 kW). The energy efficiency requirements have also been reinforced, reflecting technological progress and market evolution in the past decade. For example, the new rules will now regulate the efficiency of variable speed drives. This is an electronic device that can be used to adjust the rotation speed of an electric motor according to the needs of the application, which can result in considerable energy savings. Both motors and drives will now be subject to information requirements such as efficiency at different load points. This will help engineers to optimise the efficiency of entire systems.

The EU will also become the first region in the world to make the international IE4 energy efficiency level mandatory for some categories of electric motors, as of July 2023.

Under the previous 2009 regulation the improvement in the efficiency of motors was expected to bring 57 TWh of annual energy savings in the EU by 2020. Taking into account the overall effect of the new revised regulation, Commission modelling estimates that annual savings will increase to 110 TWh by 2030, which is equivalent to electricity consumption of the Netherlands. This means that 40 million tonnes of CO2 emissions will be avoided each year and that the annual energy bill of EU households.

Worldwide, electric motors represent around 50% of electricity consumption. Promoting market uptake of efficient motors and drives is an important contribution to the fight against climate change. The EU supports the Super-Efficient Equipment and Appliances Deployment (SEAD) Initiative bringing together countries across the world to cooperate in promoting efficient appliances. SEAD currently focuses particularly on electric motors, refrigeration, cooling and lighting and has set a goal of doubling the efficiency of these products sold globally by 2030, an ambition recently welcomed by G7 ministers. The new EU regulatory requirements entering into effect on 1 July contributes to this goal.

*The new regulation does not cover certain types of motors such as permanent magnet motors, DC battery-operated motors, motors with mechanical commutators, motors for hand-held equipment, as well as motors specifically designed for cars.

Related links

• Electric motors and variable speed drives
• About the energy label and ecodesign