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The Next Step: Further Testing and Promotion “This project fits directly into our mission of creating economic and environmental benefits through innovative approaches to energy use,” explained Kitt Butler, business development manager at Advanced Energy. “Also, as a leader in motor efficiency education to industrial motor users, this technology appears to have great potential, and we want to make certain our customers are aware of the possibilities.” 
The role of Advanced Energy in the copper motor rotor project will be to further test and promote the technology. “To date, a wonderful amount of work has been done by the Copper Development Association (CDA) to develop and demonstrate to motor manufacturers that copper rotors are feasible. Also, from what I could see in Denver [at the recent demonstration meeting], motor manufacturers and vendors to the industry are taking notice. This is great news for our economy, as one part of this equation, the supply side, is being addressed very well by this effort,” Butler explained. “The other side of the equation is the demand side, or the motor users. Having the ability to manufacture new, more-efficient motors does not always mean that the market is ready to run out and buy them. ‘Build it and they will come’ works in Hollywood but does not always play in reality. Motor users need to be educated on life-cycle costs and payback periods so they can make informed and better decisions.” The North Carolina Utilities Commission founded Advanced Energy in 1980 under the name Alternative Energy Corporation (AEC). The company was formed in response to rising electricity rates at the time due to an increase in power plant construction. The role of AEC was to explore alternative ways of producing electricity and to discover ways to get more work out of the electricity already available. The name was officially changed in 1996 to Advanced Energy, to reflect the expanded role of the corporation in promoting energy efficiency technologies. In this capacity, Advanced Energy works with a wide array of businesses and industries on many different levels. Regarding motors, Mr. Butler explains, “We help motor manufacturers achieve regulatory compliance with the EPCA (Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1992) through consulting and testing. In fact, over the past 18 months, we have consulted on 24 of the 30 Compliance Certificates issued thus far by the Department of Energy to motor manufacturers selling 1-200 hp, 3-phase, 2-, 4-, and 6-pole motors in the United States.” MORE >> |
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