Grid · Oct 18, 2026, 16:52

Variable frequency drives could free grid capacity for data centers

Variable frequency drives, simple motor controllers, can cut motor power use 40 to 60 percent. Few US factories use them; makers want tech firms to help pay.

Industrial motors driving pumps and a fan, each wired to a wall-mounted drive controller — Illustration (AI-generated)
Motors wired to speed controllers in a plant room.

Key takeaways

About 50 million US motors use nearly a third of the country's electricity.
Speed controllers called VFDs can cut a motor's power use by roughly 40 to 60 percent.
Only 16% of industrial and 4% of commercial motor systems use them.
ABB says fitting them everywhere could cover up to five years of data center growth.
Next: an industry pilot is gathering data to win utility rebates and federal support.

What happened

Some 50 million electric motors run the fans, pumps and compressors in US factories and buildings. Together they use nearly a third of the country's electricity, according to Canary Media reporting republished by IEEE Spectrum. Many run flat out even when demand is low.

What a VFD does

A variable frequency drive (VFD) is an electronic controller that speeds a motor up or slows it down to match what is needed. Without one, a motor runs at full speed and valves or dampers hold back the flow, wasting energy. Neal Elliott of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy says a VFD can cut a motor's power use by about 40 to 60 percent.