Motors & Variable-Speed Drives Program
The Motors and Variable-Speed Drives program offers our commercial and industrial customers in Iowa incentives for installation of energy-efficient motors and/or variable-speed drive equipment. There are simple dollars-and-cents reasons to utilize the program. In general, NEMA Premium®-efficient motors are 2-8 percent more efficient than standard motors. Adding a variable-speed drive to a NEMA Premium-efficient motor in an appropriate application saves even more because the motor then consumes less energy when load requirements are less than full speed. Qualifying equipment is eligible for financial incentives in the form of cash rebates.
When Should You Install a Variable-Speed Drive?
Commercial and industrial energy customers should consider installing variable-speed drive equipment if the motors are utilized for increased operating hours and have a higher variability of loads on the system (centrifugal pumps and fans) or the application of use includes mechanical throttling (valves, dampers, etc.). Variable-speed drives match the speed of the motor-driven equipment to the process requirement. Applications with low variability of loads such as vibrating conveyors, punch presses, rock crushers, machine tools and other applications where the motor runs at constant speed are not good candidates for a variable-speed drive. The variable-speed drive incentive is $30 per horsepower of the motor being used.
When Should a Motor be Replaced?
Because electricity accounts for 97 percent of a motor's lifetime costs, choosing a NEMA Premium-efficient motor is appropriate before a motor fails, when a motor fails and for new installations. Other reasons for considering replacing motors are loading factors and age. Premium motors generally are most efficient at a loading factor of 75 percent. Motors operating above or below this loading factor may be candidates for resizing. Older units having high operating hours or which have been rewound also can be considered for replacement. Motors greater than 200 HP can be reviewed for incentive eligibility through MidAmerican's EnergyAdvantage
Custom Systems program.
Consider These Benefits
Motor systems improvements generally will:
- Reduce energy costs;
- Improve plant efficiency and load factor;
- Minimize unscheduled downtime; and
- Reduce maintenance costs.
The minimum annual operating hours for both motors and drives to qualify for incentives is 3,000 out of a possible 8,760 hours.
For additional resources regarding motor systems management, visit
www.motorsmatter.org. For detailed motor efficiency information, visit
www.nema.org/gov/energy/efficiency/premium. For pumping system improvements, visit
www.pumpsystemsmatter.org.
Brochure and Application Form
Learn how adding flexibility to production processes can make a big difference in operational efficiency by reviewing a
full brochure
of our Motors and Variable-Speed Drives program. Print and complete our
premium motor application form or our
variable-speed drive application form to apply for a rebate if you're planning a purchase of qualifying equipment or if you've recently purchased qualifying equipment.
You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your hard drive to view PDF files. Download a free copy by visiting the
Adobe Download Site.
Questions?
Call our representatives at
800-894-9599.