Environmental Profiles for Motors and Transformers

The efficiency of electrical motors can be increased significantly by using additional materials (Aluminium, Copper, Magnetic Steel). But these metals have a specific environmental impacts as well. To determine the balance between material used and energy saved, the Dutch "Centrum voor energiebesparing en schone technologie" conducted a study to quantify these impacts using a Life Cycle Analysis approach. Taking a typical 15 kW motor as an example, the report demonstrates the environmental load after adding extra material to this motor. The results clearly confirm that the impact of the additional conducting material is more than compensated for by the increased energy efficiency. A similar study can be made for transformers.