Industrial sector encouraged to use high-efficiency electric motors

KUALA LUMPUR: The industrial sector is being encouraged to use high-efficiency electric motors to optimise electricity consumption, which will translate into cost savings for industry players.

Deputy Director of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Unit of the Energy Commission, Zulkiflee Umar, said that based on previous studies, most of the electric motors coming to Malaysia do not meet the minimum required level of electrical efficiency.

“When this component is inefficient, the electricity bill will be high. We want to suggest that one day we make it mandatory to ensure that inefficient electric motors do not enter Malaysia anymore.

“The investment is a bit expensive, but industry players can save 20 to 40%. For example, if their bill is RM100,000 per month, the 40% savings will be RM40,000 per month,” he said.

He said this while appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Apa Khabar Malaysia programme titled “Anda Jimat, Poket Selamat” on Monday (July 8).

Zulkiflee said the commission also plans to continue the Sustainability Achieved Via Energy Efficiency (SAVE) 4.0 programme in 2025, although the application process is still ongoing.

Addressing the issue of electricity consumption by households, Deputy Director of the Commission’s Promotion and External Relations Unit, Veliana Ruslan, said that society should be careful in using electricity.

Veliana mentioned that practices like turning off lights, modems, electrical appliances, and air conditioners when not in use, as well as cleaning electrical appliances like dusty fans, can increase energy efficiency and result in savings of around 10% for consumers.

Referring to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Bill 2023, which was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on June 25, Zulkiflee said the Bill aims to promote and regulate the efficient and comprehensive use of energy in Malaysia.

“We got the approval from the Dewan Rakyat on June 25 and now we are preparing the rules and guidelines which will be released later,” he said. – Bernama