CEMEP VSD Industry Group
CEMEP VSD industry group represents the manufacturers of Variable Speed Drives in Europe.
National Associations and their member companies participate in the activities and meetings, covering topics such as regulation, standards, communication, and market & economic trends.
CEMEP VSD aims to represent on behalf of our industry, to other stakeholders such as the European Commission and member states, standards bodies (IEC, CEN/CENELEC etc.) and other associations in related industries and international regions.
The President of CEMEP VSD is Mr. Janne Kuivalainen (Danfoss Drives) and the Secretary is Mr. Alain Wayenberg (AGORIA).
Variable speed drives — a energy saving solution
Electrification and energy efficiency are two of the green transition’s main drivers. According to the IEA more than 40% of the reduction in energy-related emissions needed to fully achieve international climate goals can come from energy efficiency. 20% of the world’s energy consumption is used on electrical energy and this will only rise with the electrification of industry and transport. 50% of electrical energy is used by electrical motors.
These numbers speak for themselves: The green transition urgently calls for cost-effective solutions to reduce the use of electric energy, and variable speed drives can contribute significantly.
To be more precise: Global electrical energy consumption could be reduced by 8% if VSD’s were used in every suitable application. * Using variable speed drives to control electric motor systems can typically save 15-40% of energy consumed. The use of VSDs is particularly effective in fan and pump applications where they might be used to replace mechanical methods of output regulation; a 20% reduction in speed typically leads to a 50% reduction in energy.
CEMEP is working actively with stakeholders and policymakers to raise awareness of VSD’s contribution to the green transition and implement the right policies for enhancing energy efficiency. That means securing a regulatory framework that fully recognizes the crucial role of VSD as an enabler for energy efficiency and applies a systems approach to energy consumption.
What is VSD?
A Variable Speed Drive (VSD) is an electronic power converter that produces a multi-phase, variable frequency output to drive a standard AC induction motor. It can control the motor speed, direction, torque and mechanical power output.
VSDs are extremely versatile and offer a high degree of motor control where motor speeds can be continuously and accurately varied, whilst the torque is also adjusted to suit.
Different options are available to cover a variety of applications; basic VSD designs are used in simple applications such as fan and pump control whereas more complex versions might be used for very precise speed and torque control.
A VSD may also be referred to as a drive, frequency converter, adjustable speed drive, variable frequency drive or inverter. They are usually available as standalone devices and are connected to the motor’s electrical supply. VSD are classed by power and range from tens of Watts through to several MW, available in single phase AC, 3 phase AC and DC families.