e-Notes

December  
2023  

The successful implementation of IIEC’s technical assistance entitled "Enhancement of Minimum Energy Performance Standard Labeling (MEPSL) Program for Appliance and Lighting Products in Vanuatu" was showcased as a notable achievement at the recent Asia and the Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2023, during 13-17 November in Johor Bahru. The technical assistance was led by the Department of Energy (DoE) and the Ministry of Climate Change Adaptation, Meteorology and Geo-Hazards, Energy, Environment and National Disaster Management, funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) through the Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN). This technical assistance aimed to support accelerating the transition to energy-efficient appliances and lighting in Vanuatu.

Project Team Discussed with Custom Official on Inspection of Imported MEPS-Regulated Goods	Project Team Discussed with Sales Manager on Appliance Financing at Rapid Electrical
Mr. Tony, Controller Enforcement Mgr, Customs and Inland Revenue Dept, Sharing Current Practices on Inspection Procedures and Import Application Processing of Regulated Products under MEPSL Programme	Project Team Shared Key Findings of the Technical Assistance Project at Asia and the Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2023, 14 November 2023, in Johor Bahru

Significant lessons learned throughout the project pave the way for future success and sustainability. Aligning MEPS and test methods with international standards across Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji becomes crucial to steer clear of outdated regulations, ensuring consistency and effective monitoring. Collaborating with the Customs Department to establish specific product codes for regulated items emerges as a pivotal step in enhancing import data collection, enabling improved Monitoring, Verification, and Enforcement (MV&E). Further refinement of the Vanuatu Electronic Single Window (VeSW) registration system's Energy Module, achieved through collaboration with the Vanuatu Electronic Single Window Project team, stands as a necessary measure for seamless implementation. Moreover, the pursuit of funding avenues and securing seed funding to operationalize financial mechanisms emerges as critical for sustained implementation. Commitment from the Vanuatu government to these recommendations will cement the long-term success of the MEPSL program, propelling an ongoing journey toward energy efficiency and sustainable practices.  

The ASEAN Cool Initiative, funded by the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC), is geared to revolutionize Malaysia's air conditioning landscape. Led by United for Efficiency (U4E) in collaboration with the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC). Its primary goal is to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN regional and national policy roadmap for RACs, facilitating a swift transition to the more ambitious Regional Phase II standards outlined in the roadmap.

IIEC is taking the lead in the room air conditioners (RACs) market assessment in Malaysia. The assessment plays a pivotal role in harmonizing Malaysia's policies with the regional and national targets on cooling efficiency. This synchronization is integral, directly supporting the emission reduction targets outlined in the ASEAN Plan of Action and Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II (2021-2025), ultimately propelling Malaysia towards a more sustainable and energy-efficient future.
 

 
Project Kick-off Meeting Held at the Energy Commission, on June 22, 2023, in Putrajaya, Malaysia

A kick-off meeting held at the Energy Commission in June 2023 laid the groundwork for detailed project activities within Malaysia under the ASEAN Cool Initiative. This meeting focused on aligning strategies and outlining steps to be taken in Malaysia as part of the initiative's objectives.
 

 
Project Team Conducted Retail Market Survey in Malaysia, during September 2023

Moreover, the recent regional workshop, convened on November 14-15, 2023, in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, marked a significant stride forward for the ASEAN Cool Initiative in expediting clean cooling practices across the ASEAN region. The workshop facilitated discussions and collaborative efforts among ASEAN Member States, signifying a pivotal advancement in leveraging collective expertise and resources to steer the region toward cleaner and more sustainable cooling solutions. The collaborative efforts and discussions at the workshop underlined the initiative's commitment to a concerted regional endeavor, ensuring a sustainable future amidst the rising need for cooling solutions.
 

 
Mr. Sommai Phon-Amnuaisuk, Director, Asia-Pacific, Participated in the ASEAN Cool Initiative
Regional Workshop, from 14-15 November 2023, in Johor Bahru

The International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) is supporting the Department of Energy's (DOE) Energy Utilization Management Bureau and the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) to spearhead the enhancement of the Demand-Side Management (DSM) framework for the Philippines. The envisioned framework aims to bolster the development of a robust and accessible electricity system, one that's resilient, efficient, clean, and cost-effective. Framing effective DSM strategies drew inspiration from the Power Supply Procurement Plan (PSPP) reports, meticulously submitted to DOE by 148 Distribution Utilities (DUs) across the Philippines.

The pivotal DSM-Technical Working Group (TWG) was established by DOE to guide the development of the DSM framework, and two successful DSM-TWG meetings, held in September and November 2023, served as vibrant platforms for fostering discussions and strategizing the framework's evolution. Looking ahead to 2024, key forthcoming milestones involves the preparation of the DSM implementation plan and monitoring and evaluation framework, as well as the rollout of specialized capacity building and training programs for DOE personnel and DUs to equip them with the essential skills and insights vital for the successful execution of DSM strategies.

 
1^st DSM-TWG Meeting on 13^th September 2023 at DOE’s Meeting Room

 
Mr. Sommai (IIEC) Giving Presentation on the Revised Draft DSM Program Report
on the 2^nd DSM-TWG Meeting on 28^th November 2023 at Holiday Inn Hotel, Makati, the Philippines

Solar water pumps are a cost-effective and more environmentally beneficial option for irrigation. However, overextraction of groundwater is a serious threat posed by solar water pumps as they offer virtually free electricity throughout the day. Thus, greater incentivization is required to motivate the users and promote the use of solar water pumps with judicious use of groundwater. IIEC is supporting CLASP in implementing a 2-year program that targets scaling up deployment and market commercialization of Solar Water Pumps (SWP) while enhancing water-use efficiency (i.e., not extracting more water than is necessary), agricultural productivity, and farmers income growth. The program will establish and demonstrate a pathway for increased deployment for SWPs. Under the program, IIEC developed and is testing an end-use incentive framework to enable market commercialization and penetration of SWP. This is being demonstrated through pilot programs with small and marginal farmers to showcase the long-term benefits of the incentive scheme. This incentive will provide farmers an alternate revenue source to mitigate against the uncertainty of productivity growth.
 

 
A Beneficiary With the Installed Solar Water Pump Under the End-use Incentive Program

International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) is providing partnership-cum-support to SDC to demonstrate building integrated renewable energy systems in India, increase the local capacity and stimulate market transformation towards the adoption of renewable energy technologies (BEEP-RE). The project has shortlisted an exhaustive list of viable RE technologies building applications in India and is implementing a few pilot projects to demonstrate the technologies. The BEEP-RE project also extends support to the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA-ND), contributing to the integration of renewable energy technologies in pedagogy and is now supporting establishment of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Renewable Energy integration in buildings. The CoE was announced by Ar. Habeeb Khan, Chairperson (Board of Governance), School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi on December 1, 2023. CoE shall support research and incubation of suitable RE technologies, promote industry collaboration and act as repository of building sector related databases.

 
Workshop Held at New Delhi for Announcing the Centre of Excellence in Association With School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi

IIEC supported GIZ India to explore and document the diverse applications of decentralized renewable energy (DRE) technologies within key stages of the Agriculture, Dairy, and Fishery value chains. The primary objectives involved a comprehensive review of existing literature, reports, and publications to identify suitable DRE technologies applicable to small and marginal farmers. This includes an in-depth analysis of each application, covering features, classifications, technical specifications, and potential variations. The project further emphasizes a comparative assessment of DRE technologies against conventional fossil fuel-driven alternatives in the market. Additionally, the economic potential and viability of the identified DRE applications were scrutinized, with a focus on case studies that encapsulate the business model and institutional framework. The integration of visual presentations in case studies aims to facilitate future use in E-learning modules. In the context of this endeavor, small and marginal farmers are defined based on specific criteria related to land ownership and livestock quantities in Agriculture, Dairy, and Fishery.  

Stakeholder Workshop for Dissemination of the Identified and Documented Solar Applications
in Agri, Dairy and Fishery sectors