Technical Assistance to Update Energy Performance Standards for Three-Phase Electric Motors in Chile

The Ministry of Energy of Chile, in collaboration with the World Bank, commissioned Econoler and Fundación Chile to provide technical assistance to update and expand national energy efficiency standards for three-phase electric motors. The consulting team evaluated the technical, economic, and regulatory conditions for both adopting higher efficiency levels in existing motor regulations and introducing new standards for larger motors. The work included market and technology analyses, impact assessments, and the development of proposals for energy efficiency standards for motors, along with a roadmap to support the effective implementation of updated standards in the industrial and mining sectors.

Under this mandate, Econoler carried out the following tasks:

• Conducted market and technology analyses to characterize the current stock of electric motors and identify efficiency gaps;

• Reviewed international standards and regulatory frameworks to benchmark existing requirements in Chile against global best practices;

• Developed a national baseline model to estimate energy use, costs, and emissions associated with electric motors;

• Quantified the potential energy, economic, and environmental impacts of introducing updated and new energy efficiency standards;

• Prepared proposals for new regulatory requirements, including efficiency levels, testing methods, and certification procedures;

• Designed a practical implementation roadmap outlining institutional roles, timelines, and capacity-building needs.

Through these services, the client benefited from comprehensive, evidence-based proposals that would strengthen the existing regulatory framework, support informed decision-making, and enable long-term energy and carbon savings across all sectors that rely intensively on electric motors in Chile.