ABB Robotics Leads International Standardization of Industrial Robot Energy Consumption Measurement

On Jan. 27, 2026, ABB Robotics said it would lead development of an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) technical specification to measure industrial robots’ energy consumption and efficiency, together with 11 other countries. The company said the initiative would increase transparency, enable customers to make more informed choices, and help the robotics industry track and reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with electricity use.

For manufacturers introducing or upgrading industrial robots, the inability to compare the power consumption of different models under the same conditions poses an obstacle both to equipment selection and to managing emissions during operation. ABB Robotics said comparisons are difficult because there is currently no global measurement standard. Citing its survey finding that power use during operation accounts for the majority of carbon dioxide emissions, the company said it is working to develop an international standard for measurement.