ECN, UNEP, Partners Set To Boost Stakeholders' Capacity, Launch 3 Study Reports

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and other partners, is gearing up to enhance the capacity of stakeholders in the sector, aiming to enforce energy performance standards for air conditioners in Nigeria.

Scheduled for November 15, 2023, at the ECN headquarters, the one-day training workshop on air conditioners monitoring, verification and enforcement is part of the project implementation: "Scaling-Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria".

The primary objective of the project is to expedite the transition to energy-efficient air conditioners (ACs) with climate-friendly (low-GWP refrigerant) in residential, commercial and public buildings. This initiative is designed to contribute to meeting Nigeria's climate targets in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.

The key goals of the training workshop are twofold: first, to build the capacity of relevant government institutions to enforce energy performance standards for air conditioning equipment effectively; second, to enhance their ability to conduct surveillance activities in the air conditioner sector to monitor compliance with these standards. Additionally, the workshop aims to collect feedback from stakeholders and secure their support for the proposed new energy performance standards for air conditioners.

ECN and its partners also plan to launch three study reports in conjunction with the training workshop. These reports are intended to guide the nation in promoting the adoption of an energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling system in Nigeria, aligning with the country's efforts to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

The national stakeholders' workshop, scheduled for November 16, 2023, at the ECN headquarters in Abuja, will witness the public presentation of the Air Conditioners Market Assessment, the project’s communications strategy, and the advancing air conditioners’ energy efficiency regulation, compliance and enforcement.

The results of the Market Assessment study will provide valuable insights for policymakers and regulators, helping them understand the technical and commercial characteristics of the air conditioner market. This understanding will inform the updated process of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) values that can deliver cost-effective energy savings without negatively impacting the market. Moreover, the subsequent impact assessment in development will build upon the information gathered and the proceedings of the workshop on the 16th of November, 2023, to serve as a benchmark for measuring the impact of the proposed MEPS.

The objectives of the workshop extend to presenting the results of the air conditioner market assessment to critical stakeholders and gathering their input to enrich the report further. It also aims to strengthen collaboration with industry stakeholders and solicit their continued support for the AC MEPS review process. Finally, the workshop will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss the choice of using the energy efficiency ratio (EER) or the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) to compare the energy efficiency levels of air conditioning equipment.

You can visit the project page here