The International Copper Association (ICA) is taking steps to help China meet its dual carbon goals—reaching peak carbon emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060—through its industrial motors initiative. Achieving these goals is key for China’s development, and one of the most effective and economical ways to meet these emissions targets is by increasing energy efficiency in the industrial sector.
The Need for Energy-Efficient Industrial Motors
Motors are major drivers of energy use in industrial operations. Energy consumption rates in industrial facilities can be lowered by reducing emissions and conserving energy. To do so, governments, industry and manufacturers must develop and promote high-efficiency and ultra-high-efficiency motors, speed up replacements and upgrades of low-efficiency motors in stock, and recycle used motors. According to United for Efficiency, switching to energy-efficient industrial motors in China could save up to $10 billion in energy costs and 0.09 billion tonnes of carbon emissions by 2040, the equivalent of taking 51 million passenger cars off the road.
ICA Campaigns for Energy-Efficient Motors in China
ICA provided technical support and information for the development of the Motor Energy Efficiency Enhancement Plan (2021 – 2023), which was primarily developed by the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). ICA has been promoting the plan through strategic collaboration with organizations, such as the Machinery Industry Energy Conservation and Resource Utilization Center in Jiamusi, China—which jointly co-hosted a special promotional conference in March 2023—and through ongoing campaigns. The state-led promotional campaign, “Promoting Energy-Saving Services to Business,” held a kick-off event that included a speech from ICA China Director, Victor Zhou, on the possibilities of employing energy-efficient motors in China. The event brought together representatives from related industry associations, scientific research institutions and key enterprises in the industrial and information technology fields. ICA, in partnership with the China Industrial Energy Conservation and Cleaner Production Association (CIECCPA), made presentations and proposals to the Ministry at the event. After, the Ministry introduced ideas and plans to further promote industrial energy conservation and proposed recommendations to turn the plans into practice.
ICA has provided continuous support to energy conservation and carbon reduction initiatives. In addition to the Motor Energy Efficiency Enhancement Plan, ICA assisted in the three-year Transformer Energy Efficiency Enhancement Action Plan (2021 – 2023), which promotes the use of green transformers, energy conservation and carbon reduction in power distribution systems. ICA championed the advancement and implementation of high-efficiency, energy-saving products, such as energy-efficient transformers. These efforts contribute to improving energy-efficient infrastructure in China to support its national low-carbon transformation.
About the International Copper Association
The International Copper Association (ICA) brings together the global copper industry to develop and defend markets for copper and make a positive contribution to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ICA has offices in three primary regions: Asia, Europe and North America. ICA and its Copper Alliance® partners are active in more than 60 countries worldwide.