Many readers will be surprised that over 40% of global electricity is consumed by electric motors, and even more surprised that the figure for South Africa is higher still, according to Zest WEG Group sales engineer Machiel de Bruyn.
“This is an indication that most farmers are not fully aware of how much their motors are costing them in electricity,” says De Bruyn. “In turn, this explains why many farms hang on to old, inefficient motors for longer than they should, thinking they are saving money.”
Farms incur particularly high electricity costs to drive pumps in energy-heavy functions like irrigation. While in previous decades the price of electricity was much lower and less of an impact on the financial bottom line, rocketing energy costs in recent years have meant that the electricity bill is now a major factor in farm viability and profitability.
De Bruyn says that the cost of running a motor, even viewed over just 12 or 24 months, is many times greater than the motor’s original purchase price.
“Up to 90% of an electric motor’s cost of ownership relates to the power it consumes, so it may not make sense to keep repairing a low-efficiency motor in the belief that this is a cost-saving exercise,” he adds. “In fact, modern high-efficiency motors can pay for themselves in a relatively short time, and then start saving the farm money into the future.”
An effective strategy employed by some of the country’s most successful farms has been to steadily replace the older, less efficient motors whenever they fail, instead of trying to repair them. This approach provides an affordable way of working towards a lower-cost operation, without having to jettison existing assets.
Zest WEG Group was one of the first equipment suppliers to move from IE2 compliant (high efficiency) to IE3 compliant (premium efficiency) motors, raising the bar with WEG’s fit-for-purpose design for the African market. Using even less electricity than the old IE2 units, WEG IE3 motors were introduced at no additional cost to Zest WEG Group customers.
De Bruyn says many farmers have also reduced energy costs by installing VSDs, which control the speed at which motors run depending on the required power output at any stage in the pumping cycle.
“Combining VSD technology with the new WEG IE3 motors gives farmers two of the best strategies for improving their cost structure in respect of power consumption for activities like irrigation,” concludes De Bruyn.
Read more...Why utilities must prioritise maintenance of SA’s remote data Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
The story of power generation is more than meets the eye. Beyond energy distribution and the infrastructure are invisible, point of presence data centres located the remotest parts of our country that play a fundamental role in keeping systems running
Read more...The house that revolutionises substations WEG Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Traditional substations have major drawbacks in terms of their construction and resilience. One solution is the E-house, a prefabricated, customised and transportable steel structure designed to house a range of electrical and automation equipment.
Read more...Localised inverter-integrated transformer
Electrical Power & Protection
ACTOM, South Africa’s largest manufacturer, repairer and distributor of electromechanical equipment, is launching a breakthrough in renewable energy integration with its localised inverter-integrated transform
Read more...ABB innovation for energy efficiency and sustainability
Electrical Power & Protection
The application of sensor technology to reduce the operational and standby power losses of traditional current and voltage transformers can lead to energy savings of 181 MWh over a 30-year period, the lifetime of a typical switchboard in the African environment.
Read more...UPS systems are key to keeping SA’s automotive industry up and running Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
During loadshedding, PLCs and OT systems often fail, not because they are directly tied to the factory’s core manufacturing process, but because they are now an integral part of IT infrastructure. When an IT system shuts down, the impact is far more complex than simply restarting machinery.
Read more...ACTOM advances energy infrastructure
Electrical Power & Protection
At this critical juncture where South Africa is poised to modernise its power infrastructure, ACTOM’s Engineering Projects and Contracts (EPC) Division showcased its capabilities for the first time at Enlit Africa 2025.
Read more...Advanced contactor solution to revolutionise motor management Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric South Africa has launched the TeSys Deca Advanced, an advanced contactor solution designed to revolutionise motor management with unparalleled efficiency, reliability, simplicity and sustainability.
Read more...Steaming ahead with boiler skills development
Electrical Power & Protection
As an expert in steam and boiler operations and maintenance, AES is very focused on safety, quality, technology advancement and the development of human capital. The company invests heavily in training and the promotion of talented people on an equal opportunity basis into the industrial operations environment.
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.