Energy Efficiency of ABB Electric Drives as Key to Climate Resistance and Sustainable Management of Resources

Climate change has an increasingly visible impact on the natural environment and economic activities, especially in sectors that are directly dependent on stable weather conditions and resource availability. Agriculture, as the most sensitive link in that chain, is already suffering the consequences of extreme weather events, changes in precipitation patterns and increasingly long dry periods. In such a context, energy efficiency emerges not only as a tool to reduce emissions, but also as a key strategy for the conservation of natural resources, stability in food supply and the ability of communities to adapt to climate change.

The greatest potential lies where we least notice it - in electric motors that daily run irrigation systems, food processing, refrigeration and storage, but also processes in factories, pumping plants, transport lines and industrial plants of all kinds. Almost half of the world`s electricity is used precisely to run these engines, with a significant part of them being outdated, inefficient and wasteful of energy. Namely, the statistics show that more than half of these engines are older than 20 years, often with too much capacity for real needs, without the possibility of regulation and with losses that imperceptibly, but inevitably, flow into high bills and CO₂ emissions.

It is precisely here that ABB, one of the global leaders in the fields of electrification and automation, sees room for technological and economic progress. The replacement of conventional electric motors with new, highly efficient models in IE4, IE5 and even IE6 classes, which reach an efficiency of up to 99.13%, together with the integration of frequency regulators and remote monitoring of work and performance, forms the basis of a modern energy strategy. The point is not just to replace the equipment, but to establish a smart system - where the engine does not run more or less than necessary, where speed and load are adjusted in real time, and every kilowatt is used with a purpose.

Modernization of that infrastructure - through the replacement of old motors with highly efficient models and their connection with ABB frequency regulators - the system gains a new dimension of manageability, which achieves direct energy savings, cost reduction and better protection of natural resources. Instead of working under full load regardless of real needs, the motor becomes "smart": it adapts to the real needs of the process, saves energy and reduces wear.

In the case of utilities, Brazilian water company Saneago achieved annual savings of $700,000 by implementing ABB Ability Digital Powertrain solutions, which include digital sensors, real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. This simultaneously increased the availability of equipment and the continuity of water supply, which in times of climate uncertainty gains additional importance. At a wastewater treatment plant in the UK, old motors were replaced, which were paired with ABB variable frequency drives, resulting in a reduction in electricity consumption of more than 60 percent. The results are not only ecological - a saving of one hundred tons of CO₂ emissions per year - but also directly economically measurable, with a return on investment within one business year.

Digitalization gives added value to these technological solutions. By connecting motors and controllers with IIoT sensors and analytics platforms, operators today can monitor equipment performance in real-time, predict failures, analyze consumption trends and optimize process operation in line with the system`s broader energy needs. In large-scale agricultural systems, but also in processing, such tools enable resources (energy, water, chemical agents) to be used optimally, without losses. In this way, not only energy is saved, but also the quality of the soil, air and water is protected.

The importance of energy efficiency is also confirmed by national strategies of large markets. In China, as many as 86% of companies are planning additional investments in efficient systems, while India uses a carbon credit system that rewards industry for reducing emissions through equipment modernization. Energy efficiency becomes a tool for financial, regulatory and market positioning.

At the global level, the acceleration of the application of energy-efficient technologies in agriculture and rural infrastructure has the potential to significantly influence the achievement of climate goals and the reduction of emissions by 2030. In doing so, already available technology is used, often with an extremely favorable ratio of investment and gain. In many cases, the return on investment in highly efficient motors and frequency regulators is realized in less than four years, while the benefits last for decades.

ABB, as a global leader in this field, constantly pushes the boundaries of efficiency. In 2025, a new world record for electric motor efficiency of 99.13% was set, which clearly shows to what level it is possible to improve existing processes without compromising on reliability. The important fact is that the price of such an engine was only 1% higher than the conventional model, while the return on investment was reached in less than four months. This data best illustrates that sustainability and profitability do not have to be in conflict - on the contrary, they are mostly part of the same calculation.

ABB, through the Top Industrial Efficiency initiative and the international Energy Efficiency Movement, is already connecting companies, institutions and innovators to jointly accelerate this transition. The aim of the movement is to promote energy-efficient solutions, share best practices, provide platforms for cooperation and collaborate with strategic partners to demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency. By optimizing the energy efficiency of industrial electric motors, it is possible to return over 10% of electricity back to the grid without spending trillions of dollars on new infrastructure.

At a time when the energy system is under pressure, and needs are growing, the greenest unit of energy will be the one that we don`t have to consume. And in rural areas and sectors directly reliant on nature, efficiency becomes just as important as security of supply. Not only does it help fight climate change, but it creates space for reinvestment in communities, infrastructure and local economic development.

Today, it is possible to return more than 10% of global energy consumption to the grid, not by building new power plants, but by optimizing existing systems.