EMSA in cooperation with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) launched an international Round Robin testing programme for Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) to determine whether the current energy efficiency test methods provide accurate and repeatable results and if the level of reference losses described in these provide a sufficient incentive to encourage greater levels of efficiency.

The Round Robin has shown that almost all VSDs on the market easily reach the IE2 level. Introducing additional IE classes could enable further differentiation, however, may not bring significant added value in terms of energy savings.