Get your motor running at 2009 DSM Technology workshop

For agriculture and industry, the written pole motor offers a cleaner, more efficient alternative to fossil fuel-powered pumps. Precise Power will be demonstrating its written pole model at the DSM Motors and VFD workshop. (Photo by NPPD)

If you were one of the many participants who benefitted from the Demand-Side Management Technology lighting workshops, you may want to meet us in Bismarck, N.D., April 6 for DSM Technology, the Sequel: Motors and Variable-Frequency Drives (VFD).

The success of the first series made it clear that utilities want more information about equipment and systems that can reduce their loads, and they want it in the context of their own territories. So Western's Upper Great Plains Region (UGP) and Basin Electric Power Cooperative are teaming up to take down the single largest electric end use in the country.

Targeting strategic systems

"We choose the topics for the DSM Technology workshops to help utilities take the strategic approach to setting up DSM programs," said workshop speaker Katherine Johnson of Johnson Consulting Group. "The first series covered lighting technology because that's the easiest, most cost-effective efficiency measure. Motors are the logical next step because, like lights, motors are everywhere, and they can be changed in a targeted way, unlike heating and cooling systems for example."

Motors represent enough of the load in Basin's territory that member co-ops suggested that the power wholesaler put on a workshop. "Our members serve a lot of customers who are doing irrigation and grain drying," said Chad Reisenauer, Basin key accounts and energy conservation coordinator. "We also have some large industrial accounts and more than a few ethanol plants in our territory, too. Which is to say, there is a lot of room to improve motor efficiency."

The target audience for the motors workshop is electric utility managers, energy program planners and facility designers who have made the decision to implement DSM programs. Like the previous series, this agenda focuses on specific technologies to help utilities and their customers meet energy savings goals.

Reisenauer hopes that the workshop will provide participants with the background they need to guide their customers in choosing motors based on the application. "Too often, customers ask their power providers for help after they have purchased a motor," he noted. "The greatest savings are realized from the proactive approach."

Same format, different technology

Except for the technology, the workshop format is similar to the lighting series. It begins with a "technology roadmap," a brief primer on motors and VFDs that will be especially useful for attendees who have little technical background.

A panel discussion on regional case studies follows featuring Cory Fuehrer, energy efficiency program manager for Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD). Fuehrer will talk about NPPD’s successful statewide irrigation efficiency program.

In 2008, NPPD recognized a curtailment of 515 megawatts from irrigation load control at its system peak through billable demand and energy curtailment programs. The power wholesaler also promotes cost-effective improvements to electric irrigation systems with incentives to help defray costs associated with irrigation system tests and equipment upgrades.

In the Motor Program Strategies session, Fuehrer and Johnson will lay out the costs, benefits, challenges and considerations of implementing a motor program. They will also provide resources where attendees can find more ideas for program strategies. "There is no need for utilities to reinvent the wheel," said Johnson. "The participants will find plenty of successful strategies and program models documented in software, case studies and established agencies."

Motors for lunch

The lunch break will also be a break from past workshop agendas—instead of a speaker, participants will be treated to an equipment demonstration. Dan Slottke of Precise Power Corporation is bringing a 30-horsepower, written-pole motor mounted on a trailer. "It can run on a 100-amp breaker," said Slottke. "The 100-hp model only needs a 200-amp breaker."

Unlike most high-horsepower motors, the written-pole motor can run on asingle-phase line. "Most powerful motors require a three-phase line, which can be very expensive to build out to a high-motor load like irrigation," explained Slottke.

There are many benefits the written-pole motor has to offer agricultural and industrial customers. When the motor replaces non-electric equipment, utilities can increase their sales, while customers can save 65 to 70 percent on motor operation. "The written-pole motor is appropriate for irrigation, gas and oil fields and factories," said Slottke. "The more the motor runs, the quicker the payback."  

Marketing, reference resources

The best-laid motor program will go nowhere if customers don't hear about it, so the workshop includes a session on marketing the program. Johnson will go over the materials available to utilities to help them communicate the benefits of motor DSM to different customer segments.The session ends with a discussion of the best ways to track and evaluate and monitor progress and identify areas for improvement. 

The day promises to be filled with a lot of valuable information, but we don't expect participants to absorb it all at once. Attendees will receive a list of links to all of the resources discussed throughout the day. That amounts to a veritable arsenal of Adobe presentation slides, program materials, Excel spreadsheet calculators and practice worksheets to estimate savings costs and track program participation rates.  

Don't miss only motors workshop planned

Western has scheduled only one Motors and Variable Frequency Drive workshop so far this year, but more could be planned if customers express an interest. "We hope that Western customers recognize the tremendous opportunity for savings from motor DSM programs—between 62 to 104 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) annually, according to the Department of Energy," said UGP Energy Services Representative Mike Radecki. "It's hard to imagine any utility with a significant industrial customer base wanting to pass that up."

It's not too late for your utility to claim a share of those savings. Register today for the Motors and Variable Frequency Drive workshop in Bismarck, N.D., April 6. Or contact Mike Radecki at 406-247-7442 to find out how to sponsor a DSM Technology workshop in your area. 

Resources

DSM Technology Workshop: Motors and Variable-Frequency Drives

Western's Upper Great Plains Region

Basin Electric Power Cooperative

Nebraska Public Power District

Precise Power Corporation

Online registration

People

Katherine Johnson

Chad Reisenauer

Cory Fuehrer

Dan Slottke  

Mike Radecki

Related articles

Energy Services Bulletin, May 2008
New workshop series offers in-depth look at DSM technologies

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