Sustainability LIVE London: ABB Motion Services’ Keynote

November 25, 2024

undefined mins

Eric Labuda, President of ABB Motion Services, explored the vital role of energy efficiency in achieving a low-carbon future

At Sustainability LIVE London Global Summit 2024, Erich Labuda, President of ABB Motion Services, delivered an engaging talk on industrial energy efficiency.

He underscored the importance of rethinking traditional practices and adopting energy-efficient solutions to meet sustainability goals.

Erich begins his session by framing the urgency of climate change, reflecting on the Earth's transformation since the Ice Age.

With a “temperature rise of around five degrees” since then, he illustrates how even minor shifts can drastically alter the environment, emphasising the need for immediate action.

Drawing attention to the 1.5 degree Celsius target set during COP21 in Paris, Erich acknowledges the progress made in reducing carbon-intensive energy sources.

Yet, he argues that these measures alone are insufficient to meet global sustainability commitments. “Efficiency - one-third of the equation if we want to get to the 1.5 degree target,” he says, calling for a concerted focus on optimising energy usage.

Eric Labuda explored the importance of energy efficiency in achieving a low-carbon future

The impact of electrical motors

Erich provides a striking statistic: “45% of the world’s electricity is consumed by electric motors of all kinds [..] this is the main consumer of modern society of electricity, mainly in industry and in buildings.”

With over 300 million motors globally—many outdated and inefficient—he outlines the potential for significant energy savings by upgrading to modern, high-efficiency models.

“Let’s assume all of the 300 million motors will be replaced with the best technology available as of today - then we can save 10% of the world’s electricity production,” Erich notes.

He stresses that while these motors may have an initial carbon footprint due to materials like steel and copper, their lifecycle emissions are dominated by the energy used during operation.

Upgrading to top-tier efficiency standards, such as I5 motors, can deliver up to 99% efficiency, a marked improvement over older models (which “are between 30 to 40% efficiency”).

Eric Labuda, President of ABB Motion Services, at Sustainability LIVE London 2024

Erich also points to the financial viability of these upgrades.

His team identified an “average potential 31% efficiency gain,” which “corresponds to 1.25 million households of electricity savings per year.”

He highlighted similar success in a pilot project with CERN, which uncovered efficiency improvements equivalent to the energy use of 18,000 homes.

Accelerating the energy efficiency journey

To close the gap between current practices and global climate goals, Erich outlines three key actions:

Energy efficiency appraisals: Companies should evaluate their existing systems to identify inefficiencies and prioritise upgrades.
Business case alignment: While sustainability is a noble aim, Erich stresses the importance of making the financial benefits clear to decision-makers.
Digitalisation: Leveraging advanced metering and monitoring technologies can enhance transparency and validate energy-saving measures.

In a recent audit of 2,000 decision-makers, Erich explains “97% said yes, we plan to invest more in energy efficiency and sustainability.”

However, he warns that “only four out of ten felt informed enough to take action, so they do not know exactly what to do.”

Eric Labuda, President of ABB Motion Services

A call to action

As Erich concludes his talk, he leaves the audience with actionable insights: “energy efficiency is not an option - it’s a must if we are serious that we want to go to the 1.5 degree report [...] there is no other way.”

He urges attendees to challenge their organisations to prioritise efficiency, reminding them that "37% is energy efficiency is you want to get to the Sustainable Development Goal scenario.”

The message was clear: addressing the 45% of electricity consumed by motors represents the fastest, most cost-effective path to a low-carbon future.

With growing digitalisation and an abundance of proven solutions, businesses are well-equipped to take decisive action.