Small changes for lasting impact – New Flow special edition
From celebrating 50 years of drive innovation to rethinking asset life cycle strategies, a new special issue of Flow magazine brings together technical insight and real-world action for engineers, operators, and asset managers seeking to reduce emissions, extend equipment life, or cut energy use in their pumping systems.
The journey to Net Zero is often framed in terms of future innovation or large-scale transformation. But as this special supplement from Flow magazine highlights, progress is equally defined by the smaller, more immediate actions that can be taken today – particularly when it comes to energy use in pumping systems.
Produced in partnership with motor and drive specialist ABB, this new edition explores the practical and proven technologies that are helping to reshape the energy performance of pump-driven applications. At the heart of this shift are high-efficiency motors and intelligent variable speed drives (VSDs), which continue to unlock new opportunities for optimisation, resilience, and carbon reduction across the water and wastewater sectors.
As the supplement shows, VSDs have evolved well beyond their original function. From built-in condition monitoring and anti-cavitation control to autonomous cleaning routines, modern drives now provide critical support for both performance and asset longevity. In parallel, the latest IE5-rated motors are setting new benchmarks in efficiency, with potential savings that multiply rapidly across large motor fleets.
The publication also examines how a modest reduction in motor speed – just 1% – can yield meaningful energy savings without compromising process effectiveness. It is a simple idea, but one with wide-reaching implications for operational costs and sustainability targets alike.
The message is clear: meaningful change starts now – and it starts with the systems already in place.
