It is impossible to overstate the importance of hydroelectric power in this CO2-aware age. This emission-free, renewable source of energy is widely used throughout Europe. In turbines and other systems, rapidly biodegradable hydraulic oils from MOTOREX make an important contribution to fully sustainable power generation.
The principle of using the kinetic energy contained in water is nearly as old as humanity itself. The same energy that once drove watermills now generates about 16 percent of the world’s electricity according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). This makes hydroelectric power the biggest renewable source of energy worldwide. The European leaders in CO2 -free hydroelectric power generation include countries such as Norway (over 95 percent), Austria (approximately 60 percent), Switzerland (approximately 55 percent) and Sweden (around 40 percent).
Hydroelectric power has continued to gain importance in recent decades. New technologies are improving efficiency and delivering measurable growth in output. In particular, pumped-storage power plants work like a kind of “liquid battery”, storing surplus energy that they can then return to the grid when needed. However, there is limited scope to expand large-scale hydroelectricity plants. At the same time, lubricants are affected by the general tightening of environmental standards.
Responsibility for lubricants lies with the power plant operator. Wherever hydraulic systems are installed in or around water—on locks, swing bridges, sewage treatment plants or port installations, for example—hydraulic oils transmit enormous forces under demanding operating conditions. Hydraulic oil is also used to lubricate turbines that are not filled for life. Hydropower specialists regard rapidly biodegradable hydraulic oil as the smart default choice. After all, if a non-environmentally compatible lubricant escapes unnoticed into the water, the consequences can be potentially devastating.
Operational safety is the primary focus of all system- related applications. Hydraulic systems and lubricant technology both have an important role to play here. High performance and long service lives combined with the added value of rapid biodegradability to OECD 301 B standards make ECOSYNT HEES and ECOSYNT HEPR hydraulic oils the natural choice for the applications described above. Both comply with EAL (Environmentally Acceptable Lubricant) standards for biodegradability, toxicity and bioaccumulation, which means that they have minimal adverse consequences in the aquatic environment. Both also meet a range of specifications and can be used across a broad variety of applications. They are also suitable for salt water applications.
For each application, MOTOREX draws up a custom lubrication profile that takes account of all the infrastructure manufacturers’ specific parameters and requirements. End-to-end sustainability is promoted not only by the company’s biodegradable hydraulic oils, but also other biodegradable and highly environmentally-friendly products such as gear oils, greases, chain lubricants, cleaners and sprays. Moreover, on-site consultations and regular laboratory testing of lubricant samples deliver accurate information on the condition of both machinery and lubricants. The duration of long-life use is also derived from these. As a concept, it has won over many plant operators and proven successful across Europe.
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