Significance of Non-Active Power in Energy Efficiency of Electric Drives

The paper deals with consumption of total electric power in electric drives: active (kW) and non-active (kvar) regarding reactive and distortion power. Based on more confirmed references, regulations and measurements, the state of consuming non-active power in electric drives is analyzed. The measurements on different ways show that consumption of non-active power is not negligible. The questions about active and reactive power are almost elaborated, but distortion power is usually not measured and paid. However it is bad stimulation for more using power electronics. Non-active power must be produced, transmitted and distributed too. The problem becomes heavier with modest possibility to storage electric energy, i.e. produced electric energy is mainly immediately consumed.