The City of Launceston's Leisure and Aquatic Centre (LAC) in Tasmania, Australia, has upgraded its pool circulation pumping infrastructure with modern motor and drive technologies, reporting significant energy efficiency, operational improvements and financial benefits.

The project was delivered with Enginuity Power Solutions, which was engaged to help optimise pool circulation pumping operations at the Aquatic Centre, described as an important community asset for the City of Launceston. It forms part of a program jointly funded by the City of Launceston and the Australian Government.

The City of Launceston received grant funding through Round 1 of the Community Energy Upgrades Fund to facilitate the project.

A community facility with heavy demand

LAC offers heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, water safety education, recreation, fitness, preventative health, sport and social connection for all abilities. The facility sees more than 470,000 visitors annually.

The collaborative project involved Enginuity Power Solutions, ABB Authorized Value Provider A1 Electric Motors, and ABB Australia. The facility installed twelve ultra-premium IE5 synchronous reluctance (SynRM) motors, four EC Titanium motors, and sixteen ACH580 variable speed drives (VSDs) as part of the City of Launceston's Community Energy Upgrade Fund Launceston Aquatic Centre Efficient Electrification Project.

The upgrades address operational inefficiencies observed in prior pump motor and drive infrastructure while facilitating equipment performance improvements and guaranteed reliability in the facility's demanding plantroom environment. Reliability was an important consideration in selecting technologies for the upgrade, as the equipment would be continually exposed to harsh elements including moisture, heat and chemicals.

Assessment found pumps at end of lifespan

Enginuity Power Solutions conducted a comprehensive lifecycle and design assessment which uncovered that several pumps had already reached the end of their operational lifespan, as displayed in extensive material erosion on the impellers. Visible signs of corrosion impacting pump housings and critical seal seating surfaces were also noticed.

"When we saw this deterioration, we instantly knew the Centre's pump performance was being compromised. That has a trickle-down effect and impacts operational efficiency, contributing to increased energy consumption and higher operating costs," said Tom Green, Managing Director at Enginuity Power Solutions.

The upgrade to modern motor and drive technology and the overall system redesign is reported to deliver 400 MWh in energy savings and 100 tonnes in avoided carbon emissions.

“That amount of energy saved is equivalent to powering 57 Australian homes every single year,” said Tom.
"When translated into measurable financial benefits, our assessment revealed that the City of Launceston had an untapped opportunity to unlock potential annual operational cost savings of up to AUD $77,120."

How the technology works

The synchronous reluctance motors selected for this upgrade combine the performance of a permanent-magnet motor, with high torque and reliability, with the simplicity and service-friendliness of an induction motor, which reduces downtime and enables long-term operational cost efficiency. When paired with an ABB VSD, they provide an integrated, energy-efficient motor-and-drive solution backed by ABB expertise and support.

"Original modelling showed a saving of 179 megawatts of energy, and 29-tonne reduction in CO2 across all pumps annually, but initial results after installation show that the reality will be a much larger amount," a statement from the City of Launceston said.

Since installation, Council confirmed observed improvements already include:

  • An average noise reduction of 7.8 dB across pumps
  • A reduction of approx. 401,340kWh annually
  • A reduction of amp draw of approx. 50%

"This project has delivered significant operational savings, which can be used to put back into other areas of the centre to help maintain the asset and provide modern aquatic facilities for Launceston and the broader community," the City of Launceston statement continued.

Emissions potential across Australia

Tom explained that what makes these results especially noteworthy is Tasmania's relatively low electricity emissions intensity, at around 230 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour. Alternatively, if comparable energy efficiency improvements were achieved at a facility in Victoria, where the electricity grid is more carbon-intensive, Tom says the potential for emissions reduction could actually be around three times greater.

"That would equate to approximately 300 tonnes of avoided carbon emissions per year. This demonstrates the enormous potential to generate meaningful emissions reductions across Australia using already available high-efficiency technologies," said Tom.

Collaboration cited as key factor

When asked to share what key factors were behind the Launceston Aquatic Centre project's successful outcome, Christopher Probst, Product Manager for ABB Australia's Drive Products Division, commented: "Projects like this exemplify that meaningful energy efficiency outcomes surpass simply installing new equipment. It starts with enlisting a consultant that truly understands how the system operates, is able to identify opportunities for improvement, and bridges the right partners to achieve the best result."

Central to understanding how technologies like VSDs can assist operators to reduce energy consumption and support their sustainability goals is recognising that they can already achieve this by upgrading existing infrastructure rather than designing a new system and acquiring completely new assets.

VSDs are described as one of the most effective solutions for improving the efficiency of pumps and fans, and depending on the application, they can reduce energy consumption by up to 40%, thereby lowering operating costs. A VSD saves energy by allowing a motor to match its speed and power consumption to the actual load, rather than running continuously at full speed.

"This matters because more than 45% of the world's electricity is used by electric motors, yet only about 23% of motors in the world are equipped with a VSD. That means there's still a huge opportunity to improve the energy efficiency of motors worldwide," shared Christopher.

The outcomes of this project highlight the role energy-efficient technologies can play in helping Australian councils and aquatic centre operators nationwide progress towards their sustainability objectives, according to the source. By combining innovation with collaboration, the partnership continues to empower councils, businesses and industries to turn today's losses into tomorrow's efficiency gains with measurable results that will tangibly contribute to a more sustainable future for Australia.