Industrial Pump Motor VFDs: Provisional Standard Protocol Christian Douglass Regional Technical Forum 5/12/2015

Overview Today we are seeking a decision from the RTF on how to proceed with the Industrial Pump Motor VFD Provisional Standard Protocol. Protocol and Research Plan were adopted two years ago and sunset next month CAT has not identified any data collected specifically for the Research Plan nor found support in using the Protocol 2

History 2012 – Protocol document developed by SBW – Protocol was reviewed and continuously improved by the RTF’s Fan and Pump VFD Subcommittee over the course of four meetings – Draft Protocol calculator developed by Nexant 2013 – Subcommittee provided final review of Protocol and Research Plan documents – CAT finished calculator (turned out to be a big lift) – Cascade Energy performed final QC of calculator – June: RTF passed measure as a Provisional Protocol with a sunset date of June

Protocol / Research Plan Overview Protocol – Outlines Best Practice (BP) and a candidate Simplest Reliable (SR) method for data collection and analysis – BP method requires pre-/post-metering – SR method requires post-metering (current or kW), post spot measurements (kW vs. VFD speed), pump and motor specifications, and details of pump operation – Not all pump systems are eligibleeligible Research Plan – Goal: to determine if post-only metering methodology can deliver sufficiently reliable savings estimates as compared to pre-/post- estimates – Research calls for 20 sites initially to determine whether SR method looks promising 4

Feedback from Region CAT reached out to a sample of utilities in the region to inquire if data had been collected for the Research Plan and to gauge interest in the Protocol – Heard from Avista, Idaho Power, PacifiCorp, BPA, ETO, and EWEB Feedback from utilities was largely homogenous – No data collected specifically for the Research Plan – Industrial pump VFDs treated as custom projects – Pre-/post- monitoring used in some (or most) cases One utility reported using a calculator-type approach for smaller pumps (< 100 HP) What are other utilities doing for small pumps? Pre-/post-, calculated? – Many projects are new construction pump systems and cannot be used to test protocol – Many VFD projects are part of a larger, systemic overhaul (not a simple addition of a VFD to a pump motor) – Overall, not much interest in deviating from current custom approaches 5

Feedback from Region (continued) A few individuals pointed to current national efforts related to pump efficiency that may lend to future RTF measure development – First ever federal standards for commercial and industrial pumpsfederal standards Where applicable, covers entire pump system: pump, motor, controls Final rule expected late 2015, which means effective date would be late 2019 – Extended Motor Product Label Initiative (EMPLI) led by ACEEE in collaboration with NEMA, Hydraulic Institute, BPA, NEEA, ETO, and others Extended Motor Product Label Initiative Would build on DOE work and focus on pump systems more efficient than the standard Still under development 6

Challenges To Protocol Adoption 7 Why has this Protocol failed to launch? – Project Eligibility Although protocol applicability is fairly broad, programs would still need to fall back on custom approaches for ineligible projects This is also a general challenge for protocol development – Value Proposition Market potential – Opportunities for adding VFDs to existing, eligible pump motors may be getting slim? – Would be good to check this with upcoming industrial surveys Current custom approach working fine – No sponsor New RTF research process for UESs requires a funder or sponsor of the Research Plan, which would be a useful concept to apply to future Protocols

Options 8 Deactivation – We could bring the Protocol back if there were renewed interest – We could still bring forward a Protocol based on the new DOE/ACEEE work Extend sunset date to allow time to identify sponsor to take up existing Research Plan and/or discuss how the new research process for UESs should apply to standard protocolsnew research process for UESs CAT recommends deactivation, barring any new interest in the existing protocol

Proposed Motion “I _________ move the RTF… [choose one] …deactivate the Industrial Pump Motor VFD Provisional Standard Protocol.” OR …extend the sunset date for the Industrial Pump Motor VFD Provisional Standard Protocol to June 2016.” 9

Additional Slides 10

Eligible Projects for Protocol The following criteria define eligible projects: – The primary determinants of pump speed are either facility operations schedule or outside air temperature combined with operations schedule. – The baseline control strategy must rely on throttling valves, with or without recirculation. The protocol is limited to a single pump. – The flow profile must be the same for baseline and post periods. – The system curve remains constant in the post period; all control valves have been removed or are non-operational. This excludes many HVAC pump systems, in which operational valves continue to be part of the system after VFD installation. – Pump motors must be single speed motors. – Pumps must not be subject to a local energy code requirement for variable speed drive. This excludes many new construction HVAC pumps. 11