Progress towards the harmonisation and transformation of ASEAN member states’ markets to energy-efficient and climate-friendly appliances took another step forward this week at a joint United for Efficiency (U4E) and ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) virtual workshop. As part of the 25th annual Energy Efficiency & Conservation Sub-Sector Network (EE&C-SSN) meeting, hosted by Brunei Darussalam, the workshop on Realizing the Shift of ASEAN’s Markets to Energy-efficient and Climate -friendly Appliances launched a regional product database that connects all ten countries in the region. Additional sessions discussed progress with ongoing projects, such as the collaboration between U4E and ACE to update the energy modelling analysis for the region, and potential future projects and opportunities for funding, as well as the finalized National Lighting Roadmaps.
By pooling information and giving visibility of the products that are allowed for sale, and prohibited, in other countries, it facilitates application of mutual recognition agreements and ultimately, helps the region to adjust their policies better and to create synergies in transforming their markets to energy-efficient products. The database is accessible to ACE and the national regulators from the 10 ASEAN countries.
The database and its key features were demonstrated via a live walk-through and the process by which the countries would connect their national systems to the database was explained. Those countries who already have a product registration system (PRS) in place, will be able to connect these directly to the database, while those without an PRS are able to adopt the new U4E prototype, thereby building on best practice and avoiding the need to start from scratch.
The next step is for ASEAN country officials to take over ownership of the system and implement it for use, with additional in-country training support available if required. It was proposed that all ASEAN member states will share data from their national product system at least every quarter with the regional database to ensure quick and prompt action can be taken towards phasing out inefficient appliances and ensuring strict compliance.
The ASEAN Regional Roadmap for lighting products was endorsed by the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in September 2019. Its aim is to provide clear guidelines in the adoption of policies to promote the use of efficient lighting products and define the targets to be achieved by all ASEAN countries in achieving regional harmonisation of the nominated lighting products by 2023. During the workshop, the current status of the Lighting National Roadmaps was presented – Thailand has approved their Lighting National Roadmap for implementation, whilst the other member states are making final revisions to their drafts.
A dedicated session at the workshop highlighted the collaboration between U4E and ACE to update the energy modelling analysis for the region, using the U4E Country Savings Assessments for the region as a foundation. This collaboration will estimate the energy impact through modelling of energy efficient appliances in ASEAN in line with regional targets and will inform the methodology and analysis framework for the ASEAN Energy Outlook (AE07). The outcomes of this model in terms of potential benefits in capacity avoidance, CO2 mitigation and financial savings due to reduced electricity consumption in the region and individual ASEAN member states will help policymakers make more informed decisions.
The workshop rounded off with a summary of upcoming activities and opportunities for 2021-22, including projects on sustainable public procurement, assessing the refrigerator policy landscape in the region, and harmonization of air conditioners testing standards. Potential funding opportunities through Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness support projects were also presented, highlighting the multi-country proposal approach.
A full copy of the presentations from the workshop, and a recording of the sessions, are available on the U4E website.
For more information on U4E and ACE’s collaboration on harmonising ASEAN’s market transition to energy-efficient and climate friendly appliances, contact:
Patrick Blake
Programme Officer
Global Climate Action Unit
Economy Division
UN Environment Programme
Patrick.Blake@un.org