Updating Minimum Energy Performance Standards to Boost Energy Efficiency in Africa’s Largest Market for Air Conditioners

At a one-day stakeholder workshop in Abuja on 15 May 2024, the Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, called on stakeholders to upgrade Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) for air conditioners to boost energy efficiency in the cooling sector and benefit from the 6 million tonnes of annual CO₂ savings by 2040 predicted by the impact assessment conducted during the project as a result of implementing these regulations.

The workshop was convened by ECN, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United for Efficiency initiative (U4E), and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) with a range of participants as part of the Clean Cooling Collaborative–funded, Scaling Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s NDC Revision project.

The objective of this project is to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient air conditioners with environmentally friendly refrigerants used in residential, commercial and public buildings, aligning with the climate targets in Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The project and its objective of reducing GHG emissions by increasing the energy efficiency of air conditioners has been reflected in Nigeria’s NDC Implementation Framework (NDC-IF) launched on the 23rd of May 2024.

The recommended MEPS and labels for air conditioners in Nigeria presented at the workshop were developed based on the information collected as part of a comprehensive market assessment for air conditioners in Nigeria conducted as part of the project, along with additional information gathered during discussion of the assessment at a stakeholder workshop in November 2023.

In his opening address, Dr Abdullahi emphasised that Nigeria is the largest market in Africa, including that for the cooling sector, and will continue to witness a surge in demand for air conditioners, stating,

“Clean cooling is not just a luxury; it is a necessity in our rapidly warming world. With rising global temperatures and increasing energy demands, the need for sustainable cooling solutions has never been more urgent. In a world where energy efficiency and sustainability are paramount, the need for stringent standards in the realm of air conditioning cannot be overstated.

“With the current population growth, coupled with improving lifestyles, urbanisation and escalating global warming, Nigeria will remain a rapidly expanding market for air conditioners and other cooling devices.

Dr Abdullahi ended with an assurance that the ECN will ensure that the SON sets standards according to the recommended MEPS and will work towards making energy efficient air conditioners more accessible.

Following this opening, Mr Samaila Zaku, the Project Director and the acting Director of Linkages, Research and Consultancy Department, ECN, emphasised the importance of the stakeholders’ workshop as a step towards sustainable development and aligning with Nigeria’s climate goals outlined in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

He pointed out that most air conditioners used in the country fall below internationally acceptable MEPS in terms of energy efficiency ratio (EER), stressing the goal of the project to review and enhance MEPS for these products.

Putting this in context with Nigeria’s broader strategy, he mentioned that the revised National Energy Policy and its implementation master plan, containing energy efficiency policies approved by the Federal Executive Council on April 27, 2022, was officially gazetted and launched on 8 May 2024 by the ECN. He reminded the audience that the National Cooling Action Plan (N-CAP), developed by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Environment, recognises the importance of promoting energy efficiency in the cooling sector.

Eng Ismaila Lawal, Head of Electrical Electronics at SON, went on to give an assurance that SON will strive to enhance the efficiency of air conditioners in Nigeria and review the standards so that air conditioners consume less energy for effective cooling.

He stated, “SON will ensure that air conditioners use less energy for cooling because they currently consume excessive energy. We cannot afford to waste energy; we need to manage it effectively.”

He urged stakeholders present, drawn from relevant ministries, departments and agencies of government; manufacturers, importers and distributors of air conditioners, multilateral and bilateral organizations and civil society organizations, to use the opportunity of the workshop to review the standards in the light of international expectations and ensure efficient energy utilisation for industrialisation.

The remainder of the workshop involved presentation of the recommendations for the updated MEPS and labels, with detailed discussions and inputs from the participants. The proposed MEPS consider introducing the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) metric by 2026, allowing better comparisons on the more efficient inverter air conditioner technologies and aim to raise the ambition with one step in 2029 and reaching the levels recommended in the U4E Model Regulation Guidelines for Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Air Conditioners in 2031.

An important phase of the project is to take awareness to the grassroots and educate the public about energy efficient and climate-friendly appliances, which use low global warming potential refrigerants. Important foundations have already been laid for this, with the key messages and activities being informed by desk research and surveys carried out at the start of the project. Partnerships have been established with key media outlets who have engaged to spread awareness about the benefits of choosing energy-efficient air conditioners and working towards a greener, more sustainable Nigeria. A radio jingle has been developed and was aired by several radio stations during March and April 2024. This was complemented by a number of radio and TV interviews given by Mr Samaila Zaku and members of the Nigeria Sustainable Cooling Project team. A series of posters have been produced encouraging users to use their air conditioners more efficiently, which have been distributed to Government departments and media houses.

For further information on the workshop or the project, contact:

Samaila G. Zaku, Energy Commission Nigeria – samaila1972@gmail.com

Marco Duran, UNEP U4E – marco.duran@un.org Etiosa Uyigue, UNEP-ECN – Etiosa.uyigue@un.org

Alternatively, you can download a copy of the project factsheet or visit the Nigeria page on the UNEP U4E website.