Replacing outdated electric motors is a climate measure that will cut emissions drastically. In Norway, ABB is hence well into a project where the old engines are recycled into new, clean raw materials.

Electric motors account for 45 percent of the world's total power consumption. More than 300 million industrial motor systems are installed globally, many of which are inefficient. Electric motors may not be so visible, but they affect us all. They drive virtually everything that rotates. For example, they provide fresh tap water, clean air in buildings, are used in food production and operate trains, cars, buses and boats.

- Power consumption can be cut by up to 10 percent globally if these systems are replaced with energy-efficient and speed-controlled motors. Of all climate measures, improving energy efficiency is the most effective way to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

- The old engines contain valuable materials that can be returned to the circuit. Copper is called the "new oil" because it is a limited resource the world risks running out of. The price of copper has doubled in the last year. At the same time, recycling of aluminum, copper and steel consumes between 75 and 95 percent less energy than new production from mining. This is the reason why ABB has entered a collaboration with Stena Recycling on the recycling of electric motors from industry.

The pilot project with recycling of electric motors started at Herøya Industrial Park in Porsgrunn. This is where both ABB's customer Yara Porsgrunn and service partner Motor & Generator Service (MGS) are located. The project has resulted in a dedicated production line that separates the metals in discarded electric motors. The raw materials they get out are much cleaner than if the engines are crushed. They can be used in new products with metals that are extracted from nature.

If all outdated electric motors in Norwegian industry are replaced with new, energy-efficient motors, energy consumption in Norway can be reduced by 4 TWh.