CLASP & SAMA^Verte Supports National Efficiency Policy for Electric Motors
Electric motor use is growing rapidly across the economy with the number of installations expected to rise from 14 million to 25 million in the coming decade, resulting in a 60% increase in electricity consumption. Efficient motors, in addition to cutting electricity demand, have the potential to support Pakistan’s 2021 NDC commitments.
From 2019 to 2020, at the request of NEECA, CLASP and SAMA^Verte quantified the national electric motors market in Pakistan and recommended policy options that would curb environmental impacts and protect local economies. In practice, the team found that the adoption of the world’s best efficiency policy for electric motors would negatively impact the 400 or so local manufacturers in Gujranwala, who have little to no capacity to meet such stringent requirements.
Consequently, after extensive consultation with policymakers and the industry association, the proposed policy first regulates larger motors (i.e., those above 5kW) that use 70% of the annual energy consumed by motors nationally, yet only represent 3% of local production. However, at the suggestion of local manufacturers, the scope of the regulations was subsequently expanded to include motors down to 160W—providing a mechanism to independently demonstrate product performance, thus opening potentially lucrative export markets. In potentially a world first, the policy also regulates secondhand motors.
The policy will increase in stringency every two years, providing adequate time for both manufacturers and NEECA to build capacity for meeting the new requirements. CLASP will continue to provide support to NEECA on policy implementation and the development of an online registration platform.
In the future, motor models will have to be registered with NEECA and will need to comply with specific labeling and information requirements before they can be sold in the market. Simultaneously, the voluntary registration of refurbished second-hand motors will commence in the coming years, following a practical “deemed efficiency” model. This voluntary program will eventually transition into compulsory registration and minimum performance requirements. The original timelines have been slightly delayed awaiting finalization of registration infrastructure.(All submissions done by CLASP and SAMA^Verte by jan 2020)
- The original project envisaged by 2030, implementation of the motor standards and label will yield an annual electricity reduction of 4.5 TWh and corresponding consumer cost savings of PKR 89.3 billion (US$600 million)—corresponding to a peak load reduction of 460 MW, and a 2.2 Mt CO₂ emissions reduction. Cumulatively over the 2021-2030 period, reductions would be 37 TWh, PKR 740 billion ($5 billion USD) and 18.5 Mt CO₂.
More information is available here:
- Lowering Energy Consumption and CO₂ Emissions from Electric Motors in Pakistan Through Efficiency Policy
- MEPS
- Proposed Motor Registration Form
- CLASP Pakistan Programme Brief
- 26 September 2019 stakeholder Workshop:
- Agenda
- Outcomes
- Presentations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Photographs
- 04 December 2019 Stakeholder Workshop
- Agenda
- Outcomes
- Presentations
- Workshop feedback
- Photographs
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Media Coverage