Interview with Geoff Lockwood, ebm-papst
"The fan regulation works"
SCOPE: What is ErP all about?
Geoff Lockwood: "Regulation 327/2011 with regard to ecodesign requirements for fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW" was published in 2011. It is estimated that 46,800 GWh of energy or 21.5 million tonsof CO2 have been saved since 2012 as a result of the regulation. However, legislation has emerged that is unclear and contains unnecessary exclusions. There is an exception to the effect that the scope also includes fans "installed in other energy-related products".
SCOPE: Why is this aspect so controversial?
Lockwood: Integrated fans are components that are built into other products. Opponents argue that this cascading or double regulation of parts and products unnecessarily burdens their development activities. In their opinion, this could be regulated more clearly: by regulating fans from the catalog. "Tailor-made" fans, on the other hand, should not be subject to regulation. Tailor-made refers to a fan that is different from a fan from the catalog. However, a fan would be considered tailor-made simply because it is painted pink - a loophole for circumventing the regulations.
SCOPE: What would happen if these fans were nevertheless excluded?
Lockwood: A large part of the savings mentioned are due to fans that are built into other energy-related products. Changing the scope so that integrated fans are not covered by the regulation would be a step back to the situation in 2012 and would be tantamount to higher energy consumption and a return to old, inefficient systems.
SCOPE: What is the process at EU level for discussing these issues?
Lockwood: The review of legislation is mandatory. Certain specific requirements apply, including examining the issue of increasing the lower energy efficiency thresholds. The Forum brings together Member States, NGOs and other stakeholders to discuss a revised version, which the Directorate-General (DG) for Energy presents as a proposal. The process had a positive impact: Many changes in the course of this revision were initiated by the fan industry.
SCOPE: You are currently observing the next review.
Lockwood: Yes, the next review round has begun. In June, the Regulatory Scrutiny Board (RSB) gave the review a negative assessment for the time being. If the negative assessment remains, we would fall back to the status of 2012. However, the consultant intends to make a new submission to the RSB. It is to be hoped that the actual situation will be recognized and that the original scope will be retained in order to limit the impact on our environment.
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