Measure Development HVAC Pump Motors

A more efficient electric motor design combines synchronous reluctance and permanent magnet motor technologies (“PMSynRM”) and is commercially available from a trusted manufacturer at a relatively small price premium. This motor type was laboratory tested showing efficiency increases of 3% to over 30% when compared to standard  National Electrical Manufacturers Association (“NEMA”) premium induction motors over a range of speed and torque (https://energyproductevaluations.org/product_categories/motors/).  According to the 2022 “California Commercial End Use Survey”, central heating, ventilation, air conditioning (“HVAC”) hydronic systems account for almost 60 percent (60%) of large office building HVAC systems, and 20 percent (20%) of all commercial building types by total square footage. This motor type was field tested in a medium size commercial building central HVAC hydronic pumping application (https://calnext.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/ET23SWE0065_Central-HVAC-Advanced-Electric-Motor-Lab-Evaluation_Final-Report.pdf). The field test measured heating hot water energy savings of 12 to 28% for 2.4 to 3.6 kilowatt hour (“kWh”) savings per day with a 2-horsepower motor, and chilled water energy savings of 18 to 22% for 1.8 to 2.2 kWh per day with a 7.5 horsepower motor. The baselines for these savings were NEMA Premium induction motors with VFDs installed in parallel with the PMSynRM motors. The field test showed that, with a $0.39/kWh tariff, the simple payback for heating hot water pumping was 0.25 to 0.34 years for the motor price premium, or 2.4 to 3.3 years, also including the variable frequency drive (“VFD”) equipment cost, and for chilled water pumping 1.3 to 2 years or 4.4 to 5 years respectively. With normal maintenance, the motor and drive have a useful life of 10 years or more, per manufacturer estimates.  During the technology transfer portion of the previous project, researchers met with the California Technical Forum (”CalTF”) to disseminate and understand what more would be needed for formal measure development. During this meeting CalTF recommended this project to gather missing information for a measure proposal for the advanced electric motor technology. This measure development project will develop “EnergyPlus” simulations to estimate energy savings, gather additional cost data, and determine whether a new measure will be needed or if an existing measure could be updated. Based on the list of relevant pump and motor measures in the California Electronic Technical Reference Manual (eTRM), a new measure tailored to PMSynRM motors may be needed to properly characterize energy savings and promote market adoption. This project may apply to three Measure Application Types (MATs): Normal Replacement (NR) where existing motors reach end-of-life and can be replaced by the advanced motors which are more efficient than code requirements; Accelerated Replacement (AR) where existing motors are still usable, but the calculations developed as part of this project show that early replacement is beneficial; or New Construction (NC) where the advanced motors exceed applicable code baseline. The applicable MATs and their related baselines will be refined as part of Task 1 (below). Savings persistence and verification will be considered in accordance with guidance from the Statewide Deemed Workpaper Rulebook and CalTF feedback. Persistence will be a function of motor lifetime and due diligence by installers to follow best practices and remove old equipment to prevent reuse. Verification will leverage validated field test data and benchtop dynamometer testing as inputs to the DEER models which contain representative operating hours and load profiles.