Energy Academy
Air Compression Fundamentals2 / 13

Compressor Types & Efficiency

Reciprocating, screw, rotary vane; energy efficiency and performance.

10 min read · Jacob Willis, Net Zero Lead · Last reviewed July 2026


Two questions decide most of a compressed air system's electricity bill: what kind of compressor it uses, and, far more importantly, how that compressor behaves when the site needs less than full output. Machines are rarely the problem at full load; the money disappears at part load, where most systems spend most of their lives. This lesson covers the main compressor types and the control modes that determine their part-load appetite.

In this lesson

  • 01The machines
  • 02Where part load eats the money
  • 03Multiple machines: sequencing
  • 04Sources and further reading