Improved energy efficieny in compliance with EU directive

In the European Union the Ecodesign Directive aims to ensure that the future design of electronic products is rendered more sustainable. The intention is that compliance with its requirements will allow energy savings of 9 TWh in 2020 on external power supplies alone.

The high-profile demise of the incandescent bulb is due to the Ecodesign Directive. However, EU Directive 2009/25/EC, also known as the ErP (Energy-related Products) or Ecodesign Directive, has many more consequences for the electrical industry. Though it is true that we will not see any more entire product categories disappearing from the market (as is the case with the incandescent bulb), nevertheless televisions, refrigerators, power supplies and other equipment are all subject to a number of provisions, including certain maximum consumption values.

The Ecodesign Directive creates a framework for ensuring that products that have an impact on energy consumption are designed to be environmentally sustainable throughout their entire life cycle. The aim is to improve energy efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of electrical equipment items. To facilitate design that is environmentally friendly (ecodesign), product developers are to make savings in energy and other resources in the manufacture, operation and disposal of the products in question. The Directive does not contain any provisions governing individual products. Instead, product-specific requirements are being devised as part of the relevant implementing measures.

6.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions

For external power supplies, the regulation for implementation of the Ecodesign Directive that has been law since April 2010 states, for instance, that power losses must be reduced by almost a third by 2020. Given that external power supplies are common on office equipment and consumer electronics, these are some of the main product groups covered by the Ecodesign requirements. The European Commission has produced a study analysing the technical, ecological and economic aspects of external power supplies. According to the study, annual electricity consumption due to losses for power conversion and no-load amount to 17 TWh, corresponding to 6.8 million tonnes of CO2. Without specific measures, consumption is predicted to increase to 31 TWh in 2020. However the measures implemented are designed to save 9 TWh each year.

In order to achieve the savings targets, as from April 2011 there are more stringent upper limits for no-load condition consumption; these are 0.3 W and 0.5 W depending on power supply type. A formula governing limits for average efficiency has also been specified. The Regulation also contains binding specifications in respect of the measurements, as well as requirements governing the information to be provided by manufacturers. In addition, the admissible verification procedures for market surveillance purposes are given, as well as indicative benchmarks. As with all of the other implementing measures of the Ecodesign Directive, the Regulation for external power supplies applies in all EU Member States and is binding on the relevant manufacturers and importers. The equipment must be CE marked to show that it complies with the stipulated requirements; otherwise it may not be placed on the EU market.

The link below will take you to an ecodesign proposal from Arrow.