Project description

Title: Establishment of a Programme for Energy Efficiency Labelling of Electronic Household Appliances (PPP)
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: India
Partner: ThyssenKrupp Electrical Steel Ltd. (India)
Overall term: December 2004 to June 2006

Context

While Indian society may still be predominantly agricultural, industrialisation and urbanisation are on the march. The rise in demand for energy accompanying this development is strongly linked to the nation’s annual economic growth of eight percent. Currently, every percentage point of growth in India’s gross national product entails a minimum parallel rise in energy consumption of one percent. The country’s power generation and supply systems - which are regulated at the state level – have not succeeded in keeping up with this growing demand. Use of electronic equipment (home appliances in particular) accounts for a major share of consumption of the nation’s existing energy resources. Despite the fact that household appliances offer a disproportionately high potential for energy savings, up to now manufacturers have not been obliged to reveal either the power consumption of their products or to develop low-energy appliances. As a result, there is little experience with consumption-cutting by such means.

Objective

The aim of this PPP project is to implement a market-orientated labelling programme for household appliances under the supervision of India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency, the national regulatory authority responsible for energy efficiency. Mandatory labelling will induce manufacturers to produce energy-saving appliances and at the same time sensitise consumers to the need to use existing energy sources sparingly and economically.

Approach

A recommended scheme for labelling electrical devices according to their energy efficiency is being developed in collaboration with the partner ThyssenKrupp Electrical Steel Ltd. Ultimately, manufacturers should be obliged by law to implement such mandatory product labelling by energy savings legislation. In an initial step, the project partners are working together with the International Copper Promotion Council India (ICPCI) to investigate the energy efficiency of the most widely used appliances. Results yielded by this study will then be used to compare and rate efficiencies. The project will simultaneously investigate possible means of reducing power consumption by altering design and materials. The outcome of these efforts will provide the foundation for establishing statutory minimum standards. By measuring the energy efficiency of Indian home appliances, collaborating with manufacturers and consumer associations and then publishing the results, the project contributes towards accelerating the introduction of legally binding energy standards in India.

Results achieved so far

A study is providing information on the organisation of the production sector, supply chains and energy consumption. This study is also delivering data on potential energy-savings and existing standards.

In addition, power consumption tests have been performed allowing various products to be evaluated and ranked. Based on the recommendations made by GTZ and ThyssenKrupp Electrical Steel Ltd., five different electrical appliances used in industry, agriculture and homes now display energy efficiency labels. The project is thus making a significant contribution towards establishing statutory energy standards in India.