An elevator equipped with regenerative drive technology that captures braking energy and feeds it back to the building electrical grid.
Full Definition
An energy harvesting (regenerative) elevator converts the kinetic and potential energy dissipated during braking and descent into electrical energy that is fed back to the AC mains grid or a local DC bus. This is achieved by the regenerative VFD (four-quadrant drive) acting as a generator when the traction machine operates in braking mode. Regenerated energy can supply lighting, HVAC, or other loads in the same building, reducing net energy consumption by 20–35% compared to non-regenerative systems. ISO 25745 energy efficiency calculations account for regenerated energy. Buildings pursuing LEED, BREEAM, or WELL certifications can earn credits through regenerative elevator installations. Feed-in metering and power quality requirements must be addressed in the electrical design.
