APEC ENERGY WORKING GROUP
EWG31, Singapore, 17-18 May 2006
AGENDA ITEM 13
ATTACHMENT D
Progress Report
Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation
(EGEE&C)
Report of the APEC EWG Expert Group onEnergy Efficiency and Conservation
31st APEC Energy Working Group Meeting
Singapore, 17-19 May 2006
Since the last report from the Expert Group on Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EGEE&C) to the APEC Energy Working Group in Ulsan, Korea, the Expert Group has held its 27th meeting in Moscow, Russia during 16-17 September 2005 and its 28th meeting in Auckland, New Zealand during 6-7 April 2006.
Outcomes of EGEE&C 27
The EGEE&C 27 meeting was held in Moscow during 16-17 September 2005. The meeting attracted 19 participants from 9 economies, including 2 observers. It was preceded by Energy Efficiency Indicators Workshop, which washeld at the same location in Moscow during 12-15 September.
EE Indicators Workshop
The workshop attracted nearly 30 participants from 11 economies (Chile; China; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Malaysia; New Zealand; Russia; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and the United States). Participants agreed that there is a need to build on the momentum of this workshop and previous APEC activities on EE indicators (APERC reports on EE indicators and the 2002 APEC workshop in Manila). Given the heightened international interest in EE indicators, participants agreed on the importance of developing a broad, long-term program on effective development and use of EE indicators. It should be noted that this workshop led indirectly to a proposal from New Zealand tabled at EGEE&C 28, Application of Energy Indicator Analysis in APEC Economies.
Project Review
The meeting reviewed the status of EGEE&C projects, shown in the list below.
Completed Projects
Sustainable Financing Systems for Energy Efficiency Projects (USA)
Ongoing Projects
A Vision for Standards and Labelling Programmes
Energy Standards and Labelling Information Network (Chinese Taipei, Canada, Australia and New Zealand,self-funded)
Energy Efficiency Indicators Workshop (Russia)
Australian & Korean Air-conditioner Round Robin Using the ISO standard (AustraliaKorea, self-funded)
Cooperation on CFL Standards and Labelling Collaboration (Australia; China)
National Energy Efficiency Initiatives
The meeting also reviewed a number of national EE initiatives, including:
Chile’s new National Energy Efficiency Program,
energy labelling requirements for air conditioners and refrigerators in China
the proposed introduction of a mandatory energy efficiency labelling scheme, and an Energy_Saving Promotion Campaign, in Hong Kong, China;
the staus of Japan’s Top Runner Program in Japan;
New Zealand’s five-year review of its National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy; Chinese Taipei’s National Energy Conference; and
the implications of the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005;
Selection of Expert Group chair
It was decided thatChina will be Chair the EGEE&C starting in 2006, and New Zealand will be Vice-chair. The meeting also noted that it has been a practice within the Expert Group for the Vice-chair to become the next Chair when the occasion arises, which means that New Zealand will assume the Chair position in 2008. Effective January 2006, the new EGEE&C Chair is Mr. Li Tienan of China; and the Vice Chair is Mr. Peter Watt of New Zealand.
Outcomes of EGEE&C 28
Joint Meeting with EGNRET
The EGEE&C 28 meeting was well attended, with 21 participants from 8 economies, including 2 observers. The strong attendance was in part because it was preceded by a joint meeting on 5 April 2006with the Expert Group on New and Renewable Energy Technologies (EGNRET). The joint meeting with EGNRET was quite productive. and Members agreed on the aim of having back-to-back meetings approximately once every two years. It was generally felt that group members can develop joint projects that combine research or assessments that combine end-use efficiency improvements with renewable energy applications. One promising good area identified is alternative transport. The APEC Energy Business Network (EBN) has put together a draft paper laying out policies and positions on alternative energy policy, and it was reported that EBN will work to incorporate energy efficiency as a more central element of the paper.
Meeting Theme
The EGEE&C 28 meeting concentrated largely on international outreach and cooperation. The newly elected Chair and Vice Chair organized a new session called “Regional Energy Efficiency Roundtable.” The purpose of the session was to inform member economies of relevant work that relates to ongoing initiatives in energy efficiency under the APEC EWG and the EGEE&C. This session covered a range of projects of potential interest to APEC economies, including:
the Asia Regional Standards and Labeling Project, being funded by the Global Environment Facility;
the Asia Regional Help Desk on Sustainable Production and Consumption, being developed by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific;
the International Task Force on Sustainable Products being spearheaded by the UK government as part of the Marrakech Process;
Korea’s National 1-Watt Initiative for Stand-By Power;
the Efficient Lighting Initiative being supported by the International Finance Corporation;
and New Zealand ‘s National Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy
In discussing ways of enhancing international cooperation and action, the concept of Communities of Practice was viewed by members as a valuable new mode for joint action in establishing harmonized approaches to the testing, regulation, and market measures to enhance the energy efficiency of appliances and equipment. Several Communities of Practice have been developed under the umbrella of the APEC Energy Standards Information System (APEC ESIS), and these represent a natural outgrowth of the effort to share information and to coordinate the development of technical standards for energy-using products. Communities of Practice have been initiated by the Australian government for a number of energy-using products, including compact fluorescent lamps, TV set top boxes, and electric motors. Participation in these communities is voluntary, and the most active is currently the International CFL Harmonization Initiative[1].
At the meeting, members were informed that the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) has committed funding of Euro 70,000 to support the APEC Energy Standards Information System (APEC ESIS). Members in principle supported the idea a sponsorship agreement between REEEP and APEC to expand APEC ESIS. New Zealand will build on example of the current sponsorship agreement with the Collaborative Labeling and Appliance Standards Program (CLASP) and draft an APEC sponsorship proposal with REEEP.
In its discussions of international linkages and cooperation, the Expert Group recognized the potential for substantive linkages between the activities of the APEC EWG and the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APPCDC) in the area of energy efficiency.
EGEE&C Terms of Reference and Strategy
The meeting reviewed a recent survey of EGEE&C members prepared by the EGEE&C Secretariat as input to a revision of the EGEE&C strategy, which was last updated in 2004. The survey resulted in a number of recommendations, which will be incorporated into a revised strategy to be forwarded to EWG 31:
Project Proposals
EGEE&C reviewed and screened project ideas, and will forward three proposals to EWG for consideration for TILF Funding:
APEC funding: International Computer Energy Efficiency Forum;
APEC Energy Efficiency Labeling Network Establishment; and
Market Research and Barriers Removal of Motors in APEC Economies;
The EGEE&C will also forward three proposals to EWG for consideration for funding under the Operational Account:
Application of Energy Indicator Analysis in APEC Economies;
Survey of Policies to Promote Energy Efficiency in Transport in APEC Economies;
Establishment of an APEC Municipal Network to Promote Energy-EfficientBuildings and Communities.
In addition, the Expert Group endorsed three new self-funded proposals:
Japan-Australia Air Conditioning Test Laboratory Round Robin;
Fiji Refrigerator Energy Efficiency Project; and
APEC System for Managing and Benchmarking the Energy Efficiency of Traded Products.
Administrative Actions
The meeting was the first meeting led by the new Chair from China (Mr. Li Tienan) and Vice-Chair from New Zealand (Mr. Peter Watt). At the meeting, a Secretariat was appointed (Dr. Peter du Pont), whose role will be to support the work of the Chair and the Vice Chair in efficient planning and management of EGEE&C business. New Zealand, which is project overseer for a new project, APEC System for Managing and Benchmarking the Energy Efficiency of Traded Products, will review the responsibilities surrounding the project, and henceforth assumes the role of APEC Energy Efficiency Test Procedures Coordinator.
EWG31/13.D
EGEE&C Report to EWG 31: Page 1
[1] The CFL Harmonization Initiative has more than 25 sponsoring organizations from the government, private, and non-profit sectors; and a network of experts from 8 APEC economies, including Australia, China, Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the U.S.