January 2011: The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has published a report titled “Motor Systems Efficiency Supply Curves,” which addresses the energy efficiency potential of motor systems.

According to the report, although motor systems have the potential to contribute substantial energy savings, on the order of 2.58 exajoules in final energy use, this potential is largely unrealized. It highlights that a major barrier to effective policy making in this area is the lack of a transparent methodology for quantifying this energy efficiency potential based on insufficient data to document the magnitude and cost-effectiveness of these energy savings. To address this barrier, the report and supporting analyses construct a series of motor system efficiency supply curves, by motor system and by country studied.

Ten energy efficiency technologies and measures for pumping systems, ten measures for the fan systems and 16 measures for compressed air systems were selected for analysis. Using the bottom-up energy efficiency supply curve model, the cost-effective electricity efficiency potentials for these motor systems were estimated for the six countries in the analyses. In addition, using the average carbon dioxide emission factor of the electricity grid in each country, the carbon dioxide emission reduction associated with the electricity saving potentials was also calculated. The report also highlights that effective energy efficiency policies and programmes are needed to realize the cost effective potentials, as well as to exceed those potentials in the future. [The Motor Systems Efficiency Supply Curves Report]