DecarbTech - Issue 3
ABB Motion
ABB Motion, a global leader in motors and drives, is at the core of accelerating a more productive & sustainable future.
The editor's picks
Thank you for embracing our monthly LinkedIn newsletter: DecarbTech.
It is only our third issue but it is already clear by the growing number of subscribers and readers the imperative on how technology can accelerate the decarbonization of industry.??
A significant step towards this ambition is reducing the amount of energy used. Therefore, read how energy efficient large motors and generators are indispensable catalyzers to lowering energy consumption in a multitude of applications.????
Likewise, developing new energy sources such as hydrogen can only be achieved with efficient and reliable production technology such as critical rectifier systems. We have a particularly interesting case with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.?
ABB works closely with our partners and customers to develop, install and service technologies that accelerate decarbonization. Enjoy reading about some of these in this latest issue with more to come every month.?
Heikki Veps?l?inen , Division President – Large Motors and Generators at ABB
1. Large motors & generators are industry essentials – so why not use them to drive decarbonization?
The heavyweight industries that form the backbone of our global economy are undergoing a pivotal shift towards low- or no-carbon operation. Energy, water, shipping, and mining all come with specific decarbonization challenges, and require specific solutions spanning applications from dams to excavators to wind turbines - but a common thread connecting them is their reliance on large motors and generators. Since this equipment is essential anyway, then why not make it as energy efficient as possible?
It is estimated that if all 300+ million industrial electric motors in operation worldwide were replaced with high-efficiency models, they could reduce global electricity consumption by 10%. However, what is particularly interesting is that while large motors - with a capacity greater than 375 kilowatts (kW) - make up only a very small fraction of the installed base, they are responsible for around a quarter of all the energy used. Therefore, efforts to improve the energy efficiency of large motors can make a major contribution to decarbonizing industry.
It is estimated that if all 300+ million industrial electric motors in operation worldwide were replaced with high-efficiency models, they could reduce global electricity consumption by 10%.
Efficient and lightweight large generators, meanwhile, save tons of CO2 emissions daily while producing more electrical energy than standard models, with fewer materials.
These two factors mean we see a consistent theme that represents the broad and simultaneous impact on decarbonization that large motors and generators can have across a range of industries.
Energy
While the oil and gas industry is preparing for a gradual decline in demand, it will remain relevant for decades to come, with most other industries still investing billions in sourcing fossil fuels. Given that 70% of its electricity usage is attributed to motors, ensuring process and energy efficiency is a must for decarbonization today. From extraction to power generation, reliability, availability, and maintainability are the key areas of focus.
On the renewable side of things, wind turbines can operate closer to capacity, with weight- and space-optimized generator design aiding construction by avoiding top-heaviness. Leveraging large-scale heat pumps to utilize excess heat is also an appealing prospect. With the right pumps, motors, and generators, 40 MW of heat can be produced with just a 10 MW energy input.
Water
Historically mindful of operating costs and heavily invested in energy efficiency, the water industry still faces challenges with outdated pumping technologies. Many motors work constantly to provide pressure across many kilometers of pipes even when water isn't being used in most of them, leading to pure energy wastage. The advent of speed-controlled motors with drives presents an opportunity to set a new standard for efficiency in water control systems, reducing energy consumption by about 30%.
Shipping
With marine vessels often boasting lifespans spanning several decades, regulatory focus on NOx emissions and fuel consumption calls for advanced technological measures. Soft generator systems that improve efficiency by optimizing engine operations to adapt to varying electricity demands signal a greener direction for maritime logistics.
Increasing interest in hybrid, hydrogen, and methanol fueling options will also create new demand for large motors and generators that are both adaptable to new power sources and lightweight enough not to hinder transport.
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Mining
The traditionally change-resistant mining industry is taking steps to electrify most or all of its machinery, from hydraulic motors and crushers to its on-site excavation and transport vehicles. As demand for renewable energy grows, drive-integrated motors that respond to the ensuing changes in grid stability will be necessary to ensure the mining and minerals industry keeps operations smooth as well as emissions low.
Catalysts for decarbonization
Large motors and generators are indispensable catalysers of decarbonization. Being so embedded across a spectrum of industries, using the latest high-efficiency designs has the potential to have sweeping effects globally and foster example-led learning between sectors.
Despite the absence of uniform energy efficiency standards for high-voltage motors and generators, the industry has seen a steady trajectory of advancement, with systems experiencing much less thermal stress and much more extended lifespans compared to just a decade ago.
As industry advances towards electrification, making the right choices now is the key to successful and cost-effective global decarbonization.
2. ABB supplies critical rectifier system for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' solid oxide electrolysis test platform to advance hydrogen production technology.
As the world transitions towards clean energy, developing efficient and reliable hydrogen production technology is critical.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries - System Maintenance Doha Metro is at the forefront of this effort, building a technology research and development base center for energy decarbonization at the Nagasaki Carbon Neutral Park in Japan.
At the heart of MHI's hydrogen research is a solid oxide electrolysis cell (SOEC) test bench that will be used to advance SOEC electrolyzer technology for highly efficient, dependable hydrogen production. To power this critical test platform, MHI has turned to ABB's industry-leading rectifier systems.
ABB is supplying a 200 kilowatt (kW) thyristor rectifier system that will convert alternating current (AC) to the direct current (DC) required by the SOEC electrolyzers. Crucially, ABB's rectifiers operate at approximately 99% power conversion efficiency when running at full load, minimizing energy wastage and reducing the overall costs of hydrogen production.
"Our rectifiers will deliver the high-power quality required for cost-efficient green hydrogen production – a vital part of the energy transition," said Nora Han, Ph.D. , Global Product Group Manager, Hydrogen at ABB. "By meeting power quality requirements and ensuring timely delivery, ABB is proud to support the development of next generation electrolyzer technology and accelerate the growth of the hydrogen economy."
By meeting power quality requirements and ensuring timely delivery, ABB is proud to support the development of next-generation electrolyzer technology and accelerate the growth of the hydrogen economy.
Speed of execution was paramount for getting MHI's R&D efforts up and running quickly. "Speed is one of the most important factors for R&D activity, and we appreciate ABB's support with fast delivery," said Mr. Hara from MHI's Hydrogen Technology Promotion Department.
The SOEC test bench project is part of MHI's broader vision to realize a hydrogen ecosystem by building the entire hydrogen value chain from upstream production to downstream applications.
As the world looks to hydrogen as a key energy source for decarbonization, collaborative efforts like this between ABB and MHI will be vital for developing and proving the technologies to make hydrogen's potential a reality.