Fan retrofit success story: Upgrading ventilation systems at ebm‑papst in Germany

ebm‑papst is modernizing the ventilation systems at its German locations with a retrofit, upgrading them to the latest generation of its own high-efficiency fans. This upgrade will significantly reduce the energy consumption of its HVAC systems. The company has executed three types of retrofits, each delivering notable energy savings:

  • AC belt-driven to EC Centrifugal → Up to 50% in energy savings
  • Generation 1 or 2 EC to Generation 3 EC → Up to 12% in energy savings
  • EC Hyblade to EC AxiEco (a more advanced axial fan) → Up to 15% in energy savings

HVAC applications that were retrofitted include air handling units, condensers, heat exchangers and more.

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The aforementioned benefits of EC fans for fan retrofits are just the tip of the iceberg. As ebm‑papst continues to innovate, our EC fans will be engineered with more smart and advanced features, enabling even further energy optimisation.

To dive in deeper to specific applications, please select one of the options below. If you do not see the HVAC application you hope to retrofit, we recommend contacting us directly.

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Reasons to retrofit your fans

The direct benefits of retrofitting your fans are clear – less energy consumed equates to lower operational costs. However, there are several other less prominent benefits that merit discussion.

Scientists around the world agree that to prevent the most devastating impacts of climate change, human-caused carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions need to be reduced by roughly 45% relative to 2010 levels by 2030, eventually reaching net-zero by 2050. Since global temperature increases are linked to the cumulative CO2 released, any ongoing emissions will continue to drive warming, thereby exacerbating climate change effects.

One strategy to help achieve this target is the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, such as ebm‑papst's EC fans in buildings, which can play a role in lowering carbon emissions.

Source:

Net Zero Climate. (n.d.). What is net zero? Net Zero Climate.

Over the lifetime of a commercial building, around 71% of total costs come from operations rather than construction. Of these operating costs, 40% is spent on energy and water, and more than half of that—about 54%—is consumed by heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. This makes HVAC the single biggest cost driver in buildings. By improving HVAC efficiency, building owners can lower costs, reduce energy use, and create a more sustainable environment (Source: ABB).

Within HVAC systems, different components such as pumps and fans contribute to overall energy demand. Notably, fans account for about 40% of all electricity use in HVAC systems (Source: Federation of European Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Associations, REHVA), making them one of the most important levers for energy savings and system optimization.

The demand for cooling is also set to grow rapidly. Over the next three decades, the use of air conditioners is projected to soar, becoming one of the leading drivers of global electricity consumption (Source: IEA). This trend makes the efficiency of HVAC systems even more critical for the future.

In many older buildings worldwide, HVAC systems, such as air handling units, still rely on traditional Alternating Current (AC) motors. Replacing these with advanced Electronically Commutated (EC) fans provides a highly effective way to cut energy consumption while improving performance and reliability.

Companies searching for office space are prioritizing sustainability alongside key factors like location and access to talent. Even in a sluggish leasing market, businesses are increasingly drawn to high-quality, low-carbon buildings and are often willing to pay more for eco-friendly spaces. According to JLL research, this "green premium" translates to higher rents—7.1% in North America, 9.9% in Asia Pacific, and 11.6% in London. Kirsty Draper from JLL highlights that office buildings contribute to corporate emissions, making sustainability a crucial element in real estate strategies as businesses work toward their environmental goals.

Source: JLL. (n.d.). How sustainability-conscious tenants are assessing new space. JLL Insights.

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Why choose ebm‑papst?

We aim to achieve climate-neutral production in the 2025/26 financial year. This means reaching climate neutrality in Scope 1 and 2. Sustainability has been at our core since our founding: each product we create must surpass its predecessor in economic and ecological performance, contributing to the sustainability of our customers' applications as well.

Since our pioneering integrated electronics before the millennium to today’s networked solutions, we deliver digital value to your applications. Through demand-driven operations, remote monitoring, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven buildings, we collaborate to find solutions that lower costs, save energy, and reduce emissions.

Founded on the belief in pioneering engines and groundbreaking EC technology, innovation has always driven our success. With substantial global investments in R&D, we continuously advance technology, enhancing our customers' applications and embodying technology leadership.

Our global presence ensures we offer rapid, customer-centric solutions while understanding local nuances and languages. By adapting our supply chains locally, we enhance responsiveness and reduce our CO2 footprint. This "local for local" approach allows us to meet customer needs swiftly and efficiently, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Download our fan retrofit info packet

This information packet serves as a collection of fan retrofit content, specially curated for built environment professionals such as building owners, facility management and installation/maintenance staff. The packet includes...

1. [PDF & Excel] Sustainable building checklist and tracker: This PDF serves as a high-level checklist for building owners who would like to improve the energy efficiency of their building. The attached excel sheet assists with tracking the impact of energy conservation strategies that were implemented. It also includes formulas for calculating energy savings, cost savings, payback periods and carbon dioxide emissions.

2. [Brochure & flyers] Retrofit brochure on EC technology & fan retrofit projects with estimated cost savings & CO2 reductions : The brochure offers an overview of EC technology for retrofits. The flyers detail an overview of our successful AHU, cooling tower and FCU fan retrofits in recent years. It includes the estimated annual cost savings due to reduced energy consumption and the estimated amount of carbon dioxide emissions that was reduced as a result of the retrofits.

3. [Video] End-to-end retrofit solutions: A quick video that offers a close-up look at the various end-to-end retrofit solutions that we have on offer.

Keeping servers cool and data safe at NTT

Keeping servers cool and data safe at NTT

NTT Global Data Centers EMEA GmbH is a leading IT service provider with four data center locations in Frankfurt alone. Nothing is more important on their campuses than security, whether from cyber attacks, sabotage, or outages. Reliable and efficient cooling of the servers plays a central role.

Operation Energy Saving: Foundation modernizes AHUs in hospitals

Operation Energy Saving: Foundation modernizes AHUs in hospitals

According to the German Hospital Federation, one hospital bed consumes as much energy per year as three single-family homes. Given their high energy requirements, hospitals therefore play a key role in climate protection. Energy savings also mean cost savings – a huge cost lever for many German hospitals in an already challenging economic situation. St. Franziskus-Stiftung Münster (the Münster-based St Francis Foundation) aims to take advantage of this lever for its 14 hospitals.

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AHU Fan Retrofit