Efficient Use of Electricity in Motors and Drives: The Utilities’ Perspective

Summary

In the last twenty years the strategies of the utilities belonging to UNIPEDE have focused on DSM actions to obtain energy efficiency and optimise the use of the electric system.

UNIPEDE, through the Study Committee for the development of electricity applications, have monitored the implementation and the results of DSM actions worldwide and in particular in Europe.

A recent report was published in March 96 under the title “Study how DSM products are marketed and how to measure results” [1]; it reports results of a survey conducted in 20 countries in the world, though most of them European. The main topics and results are summarized in this paper.

Electrical motors and drives play an important role in DSM strategies, due to the fact that they cover roughly 40–50% of the total electric energy consumption. Utilities are very interested in improving the efficiency of this use of electricity and are ready to support actions which are consistent with their strategies. ENEL and other utilities have been working on this objective for a longtime and are ready to cooperate in the framework of international programs. A review of the main results achieved by ENEL activities is also reported here below.