Motors use 53% of the world’s electricity — how Denka Platinum targets the hidden losses
IEA-4E data puts electric motor systems at 53% of global electricity use and 72% in industry. Denka Platinum (Denka®) treats the high-frequency losses on motor circuits — with verified savings in cement and plastics.
Denka® Team
Electric motors drive almost everything in a factory, and they are where the biggest hidden electricity losses sit. Denka Platinum (Denka®) is a clip-on high-frequency passive filter that reduces the losses created on motor circuits by variable-frequency drives and other electronics. This article explains the new IEA-4E figures and what Denka Platinum has achieved on motor-heavy sites.
How much of the world’s electricity do electric motors use?
Electric motor systems used about 53% of global electricity in 2023 — around 13,462 TWh — and about 72% in industry, which is why Denka Platinum focuses on motor circuits. The figures come from the IEA’s Electric Motor Systems Platform (IEA-4E EMSA) policy brief of December 2025.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Share of global electricity use (2023) | ≈ 53% (≈ 13,462 TWh) |
| Share in industry | ≈ 72% |
| Growth of motor-related demand, 2015–2023 | +26% |
| Effect of 20–30% more efficient motor systems | ≈ 10% lower total electricity demand |
Why do motor circuits waste energy?
Variable-frequency drives inject harmonic currents and high-frequency noise into a plant’s supply, and on long cables and shared transformers that distortion becomes heat — the loss that Denka® passive filters are designed to reduce. Because it is spread across many circuits, it rarely shows on a single meter; it shows instead as higher consumption per ton.
What results has Denka Platinum delivered on motor loads?
Denka Platinum has delivered verified savings on motor-heavy loads in cement and plastics — about 7% at plant or workshop level and up to 18.8% on individual sub-meters — measured by independent or production-adjusted methods:
| Site | Process | Verified result |
|---|---|---|
| Ciments d’Enfidha (Tunisia) | Kiln-workshop motors | 6.5–7.4% average saving (two methods) |
| Cleopatra Cement (Egypt) | Raw-mill drives | 7.0% lower specific energy (measured by SGS) |
| PSF Plastic Factory (Saudi Arabia) | Film and preform lines | 18.8% on the most responsive sub-meters in month one |
Where should a plant start?
- List the largest motor loads and the drives that control them.
- Measure distortion and power factor at main boards and the biggest drives.
- Fit the Denka Platinum HF passive filter where losses concentrate, then verify savings against a production-adjusted baseline.
Frequently asked questions about Denka Platinum on motors
Which motor loads benefit most from Denka Platinum?
Denka Platinum benefits most on large motors controlled by variable-frequency drives — mills, kilns, compressors, pumps and fans — where drive-generated high-frequency noise is highest.
Does Denka Platinum replace drive filters or harmonic filters?
No. Denka Platinum (Denka®) is a passive high-frequency filter that complements existing protection; it does not replace filtering that a drive manufacturer or grid code specifically requires.
How long does a Denka Platinum installation take?
Denka Platinum plates clip onto live circuits at the boards, so a typical installation takes hours and needs no rewiring or production stop.
How are Denka Platinum savings verified?
Savings are measured against a baseline adjusted for production and weather, following IPMVP Option C, and where available by independent bodies such as SGS.
See how Denka Platinum is installed.
Sources
Written by
Denka® Team
