Electrical energy efficiency work advances rapidly in the IEC

For Bernhard Thies, who is heading
the group addressing electrical energy
efficiency, the IEC is doing well in its
technical work. This doesn't preclude
potential room for high-level coordination.

The IEC's work in analysing its portfolio of standards that relate to energy efficiency and renewable energy and identifying the priority areas for future work that could result in large efficiency gains is moving ahead rapidly. The IEC SMB Strategy Group 1, established in 2007, has already submitted a first series of recommendations to the Standardization Management Board (SMB). Eleven high-priority areas where significant efficiency gains can be expected have been put forward by the group. These include commercial and domestic lighting, and industrial heating and cooling.

The group's Chair and Secretary of the German National Committee, Bernhard Thies, told e-tech: "IEC's work is well advanced. While we await the decision of the SMB on our recommendations, 'champions' have already been assigned to look into how the respective IEC Technical Committees are handling work related to the high-priority areas. Those experts are also looking at the present IEC Standards that relate to those areas and the new work that could be initiated." Bernhard Thies told e-tech that he hoped the SMB group's work would be finished by the end of this year. "We believe [electrical energy] efficiency gains are being made in the current work of the IEC, and we think our recommendations will help improve further on those."

The IEC has also completed its portfolio analysis of its standards based on inputs from the technical committees. This document was circulated to National Committees and Technical Committees for their information in early April. While the document offers no major surprises in finding that the IEC is serving the market well in areas related to electrical energy efficiency, it does offer some further ones for refinement or future work. Jack Sheldon, IEC Standardization Strategy Manager, who coordinated the gathering of the input for the analysis told e-tech: "We now have a clear understanding of the coverage of IEC Standards – as they relate to electrical energy efficiency and renewable energies. As a result, the IEC Members have an invaluable tool to help them prioritise and guide the technical work as they see fit."

The portfolio analysis covers more than 90 subject areas. For example, in the area of lighting equipment and the measurement and performance standards produced by SC 34A: Lamps, the document summarizes the IEC’s work in progress on setting criteria/labelling for energy efficiency of compact fluorescent lamps and fluorescent ballasts, as well as the performance standards for light emitting diode (LED) light sources. In other areas, such as IEC Standards on rotating electrical machines, in the domain of TC 2: Rotating machinery, the document highlights the challenges presented by the lack of harmonization of efficiency classes and the progress of the TC 2 Working Group assigned to address this issue. On the renewable energies front, including the work of TC 88: Wind turbines, the IEC is very well placed with a complete series of publications covering all aspects of the technology. Members and experts with access rights can find the full document on the IEC website.

The SMB has reviewed the group's recommendations and the subsequent action plan will be discussed at the Board's next meeting in June in Geneva. The IEC's work in this area is being coordinated closely with its sister organization, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO has decided to establish a similar strategic group and is currently appointing members.

Related information:

Administrative Circular on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
wattwatt.com - the IEC's community website on electrical energy efficiency