The terms EMI and RFI are often used interchangeably. EMI is actually any frequency of electrical noise, whereas RFI is a specific subset of electrical noise on the EMI spectrum. There are two types of EMI.
Conducted EMI is unwanted high frequencies that ride on the AC wave form.
Radiated EMI is similar to an unwanted radio broadcast being emitted from the power lines. There are many pieces of equipment that can generate EMI, variable frequency drives included. In the case of variable frequency drives, the electrical noise produced is primarily contained in the switching edges of the PWM controller. As the technology of drives evolves, switching frequencies increase. These increases also increase the effective edge frequencies produced, thereby increasing the amount of electrical noise.