A method for controlling the speed of a compressor with a controller as a function of the available gas flow. The method includes the steps of setting a desired value for the inlet pressure; determining the inlet pressure; and determining the speed. The method further includes controlling the speed of the compressor by reducing or increasing it depending on whether the inlet pressure is less than or greater than a set desired value until the inlet pressure is equal to the set desired value where the characteristic data of the compressor relating to the efficiency and/or the Specific Energy Requirement (SER) as a function of the speed and the inlet pressure is provided and the desired value of the inlet pressure is adjusted on the basis of the aforementioned characteristic data so that the efficiency of the compressor is a maximum or the SER is a minimum.