Pump energy cost and lifecycle calculators
Energy use, lifecycle cost, efficiency and payback that stand up in a board paper. Built for consultants and asset owners.
Commercial & lifecycle in Tenselo
A short introduction to what Tenselo covers in this category.
Video summary: Operating cost, pumping energy, equipment alternatives, payback and carbon impacts considered alongside the hydraulic duty.
Method & worked example
Compare pump running cost at the same duty
Use electrical input power at the operating point. A motor nameplate rating alone does not tell you the power drawn throughout a year.
| Assumption or result | Existing option | Proposed option |
|---|---|---|
| Average electrical input while running | 15 kW | 12 kW |
| Operating hours | 4,000 h/year | 4,000 h/year |
| Energy: power × hours | 60,000 kWh/year | 48,000 kWh/year |
| Electricity rate, assumed constant | A$0.30/kWh | A$0.30/kWh |
| Annual energy cost | A$18,000 | A$14,400 |
A$3,600 annual energy saving. With an assumed incremental installed cost of A$9,000, simple payback is 9,000 / 3,600 = 2.5 years.
Simple payback is only one comparison
This example excludes maintenance, financing, tax, demand charges, discounting and changes in energy prices. For lifecycle cost, compare capital, operating, replacement and residual costs over the same period using a consistent discount-rate basis. Carbon savings need a stated emissions factor and reporting period; they cannot be inferred from power alone.
Check the complete pump curve and system duty before assuming an efficiency or variable-speed-drive saving. If operating conditions vary, calculate energy for each duty and its hours, then add them.
Use COM-004 lifecycle cost comparison, COM-005 payback and COM-006 pumping emissions. Establish the hydraulic requirement with the pump duty example.
Further reading: Australian Government guidance on motors and variable speed drives.
Static educational example · Updated 1 October 2026 · Methods and limitations. Project calculations run in the subscription application; New accounts require approval.
Why it matters on the job
Running cost up front
Annual energy and cost so the cheap pump that costs more to run gets caught.
Payback you can defend
Compare an upgrade using stated capital costs, operating duties and energy assumptions.
Lifecycle, not sticker
Capital + energy + maintenance over the asset life — the number that matters.
8 Commercial, Energy & Lifecycle calculators
Every calculator in this category, by its reference code. Running them requires an approved Tenselo account with access to the relevant calculators.
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COM-001 Pipe Installation Cost Estimate
Installed pipeline cost from pipe, trenching, fittings and testing
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COM-002 Pump Station Cost Estimate
Supply + install budget cost and $ per L/s of capacity
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COM-003 Water Treatment Skid Cost Build-Up
Budget cost for a treatment skid and $ per m3/hr treated
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COM-004 Lifecycle Cost Comparison
Net present cost of 2-3 options (capital + energy + chemical + maintenance + replacement)
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COM-005 Payback Calculator
Simple and discounted payback, ROI and net saving for an upgrade
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COM-006 Carbon / Emissions from Pumping
Greenhouse emissions, per ML and carbon cost for pumping
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COM-007 Critical Spare Parts Quantity
Recommended spares from failure rate, lead time and consequence
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COM-008 Service Interval Planner
Next service date, annual service count and consumable cost
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