Launceston Aquatic Centre unlocks more than AUD $77,000 in annual savings with ABB motor and drive technologies.
LAUNCESTON, Australia, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The City of Launceston's Leisure and Aquatic Centre in Tasmania, Australia, continues to demonstrate how upgrading infrastructure with modern motor and drive technologies can deliver significant energy efficiency, operational improvements, and financial benefits.
They engaged Enginuity Power Solutions to help optimise pool circulation pumping operations at its Aquatic Centre (LAC), an important community asset for the City of Launceston as part of a program jointly funded by the City of Launceston and the Australian Government.
City of Launceston received grant funding through Round 1 of the Community Energy Upgrades Fund, to facilitate the project.
LAC offers state-of-the-art facilities including heated indoor and outdoor swimming pools, water safety education, recreation, fitness, preventative health, sport and social connection for all abilities, and sees more than 470,000 visitors annually.
In a collaborative project involving Enginuity Power Solutions, ABB Authorized Value Provider A1 Electric Motors, and ABB Australia, the facility has 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. This was an important consideration in selecting the right technologies for the infrastructure upgrade, as they would be continually exposed to harsh elements like moisture, heat, and chemicals.
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."
The synchronous reluctance motors selected for this upgrade combine the performance of a permanent-magnet motor with their 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 that is 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.
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.
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 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 pivotal role energy-efficient technologies can play in helping Australian councils and aquatic centre operators nationwide progress towards their sustainability objectives. By combining innovation with collaboration, this 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.
About ABB
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB's success is driven by about 110,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.
ABB Drives is a global technology leader serving industries, infrastructure and machine builders with world-class variable speed drives, drive systems and packages. We help our customers, partners and equipment manufacturers to improve energy efficiency, asset reliability, productivity, safety and performance.
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