Improving Appliances, Changing Lives: Pakistan’s Industry Accelerator

CLASP's Industry Accelerator in Pakistan

This Industry Accelerator has two main components: strengthen capacity for testing labs and provide technical support for manufacturers to improve their products to prepare for the upcoming regulations.

The Need for Reliable Testing Laboratories

In Pakistan’s appliance and equipment manufacturing sector, reliable, independent appliance test laboratories are starting to emerge. Test labs support manufacturers in assessing efficiency levels of their appliances, and their presence is crucial to accelerating efficiency, innovation and quality. They will also be essential in measuring the performance of regulated products for compliance once Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and labeling regulations are rolled out.

Strengthening Lab Capacity Through Partnerships with Private Sector

Recognizing the need for both industry-based and independent test laboratories that are able to provide reliable and accurate test results, CLASP facilitated public-private partnerships with major air conditioner and motor manufacturers in Pakistan. CLASP also collaborated major manufacturers to support the capacity building of existing labs such as Centre for Energy Research & Development, Pakistan (CERAD). The training included upskilling the lab technicians’ proficiency in protocols, test methodologies, and enhancing verification process to prove that testing is reliable.

Learning from International Best Practice

CLASP partnered with motor testing expert from Turkish National Standards Institute (TSE) who are working in Pakistan and remotely to help strengthen the capacity of three motors labs at the Information Technology University (ITU), the Gujranwala Institute of Future Technology (GIFT) and CERAD. TSE have provided advice not only on lab equipment set up, but have undertaken extensive testing alongside the Pakistani technical staff to ensure their ability to test products and analyze results according to the IEC testing standards.

To gain insights on producing more efficient water heaters, a delegation of Pakistani manufacturers visited China’s renowned testing lab, the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI) in Beijing. The manufacturers had an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of test lab equipment, methodologies and processes and learn insights in designing more efficient water heaters. When efficient water heaters are produced in Pakistan they will reduce the fossil fuel demand, strain on national grid, lower emissions and lessen monthly power bills for consumers.

CLASP visits CHEARI lab in China

Strengthening the Motor Industry

CLASP also invited motor experts from EMOSAD in Türkiye to visit local counterparts in Pakistan to share insights on how the country transformed from producing low-efficiency motors to building globally competitive, energy-efficient models. Following initial assessment of manufacturer production facilities, the experts have been preparing tailored design and production improvement recommendations for each participant considering their existing capabilities and objectives. The overall goal is to enable all participating manufacturers to have the capacity to produce motors of at least IE1 efficiency levels.

Industry Support Yield Benefits for Manufacturers, Consumers and the Climate

Around the world, manufacturers are recognizing the benefits of producing appliances and equipment that adhere to global standards in energy-efficiency that are also crucial to climate action and sustainable development. The presence of reliable, independent appliance test laboratories and technical assistance to participating manufacturers are the first steps towards building thriving motor and water heater industries in Pakistan. This will benefit the climate, the economy and consumers.

CLASP would like to thank the following companies who are a key part of the Pakistan Industry Accelerator program: AC and Motor Test Laboratories at CERAD, ITU and GIFT; the Punjab Energy Department (PEECA); Haier, ABB, Dawlence; the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR); the Turkish National Standards Institute (TSE); the Turkish Motor Manufacturer’s Association (EMOSAD); the Pakistan Pumps and Motor Manufacturers Association (PPEMMA); the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI); and the participating manufacturers Canon, Super Asia, Waves, Golden Fuji, Fisher, Golden Dynamics, El-Khas, Sunrise and Shahzad Pump.

Bridging the Innovation Gap: Pakistani Manufacturers Tour Chinese Test Facility

In an effort to spur innovation within the Pakistani domestic appliance industry, CLASP and partners led a group of manufacturers on a lab tour of the China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI), a leading appliance test facility in China. As gas reserves dwindle and the country faces some of the harshest temperatures in the world, Pakistan must improve and scale more efficient uses of energy – starting with the most common and energy-intensive household appliances.

“Pakistan is running out of gas by 9% each year. We believe in the future, these reserves will be critically low,” says Muhammad Salman Zaffar, Technical Lead for CLASP’s Pakistan Program.

Despite the drop in availability, the majority of Pakistani households rely on inefficient gas-powered appliances to meet their daily needs.

 

 

Pakistan boasts a robust domestic appliance manufacturing industry, yet certain technologies – like water heaters – have not evolved over the last 60 years. Last year, CLASP and local partner SAMA^Verte launched an Industry Accelerator Program to address this lag. The Program is in its pilot stage and currently supporting electric motor and water heater manufacturers. The current aim is to improve water heater efficiency by convening industry stakeholders and offering global expertise, best practices and technology know-how. Then, the program will expand the lessons and capabilities learned to the industry at large.

What can Pakistan learn from China’s expertise?

SAMA^Verte and the CLASP team in Pakistan, with support from the CLASP China team, arranged a full day tour to CHEARI in Chuzhou for representatives from Canon Appliances and Super Asia. The trip to China offered an opportunity for Pakistani manufacturers to contextualize insights from the Industry Accelerator Program – enhancing their knowledge of test lab equipment, methodologies and processes.

 

Participants look at testing equipment
We were thrilled to visit the state-of-the-art appliance testing facility at CHEARI. It has been a great learning experience and we will bring back with us ideas for improved water heater designs, as well as connections and ideas for future testing and other product development. Mr. Muhammad Bilal
Director of Canon Home Appliances

 

 

With firsthand exposure to Chinese best practices, Pakistani manufacturers can integrate similar technologies into their own manufacturing processes to develop higher-quality, more efficient and improved appliances. The visit also allowed for discussions on future collaboration between Chinese and Pakistani appliance stakeholders, helping to position Pakistan at the forefront of regional manufacturing.

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China Household Electric Appliance Research Institute (CHEARI)was established in 1964. CHEARI is approved by State Commission Office of Public Sectors Reform (SCOPSR), is affiliated by State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC).

Canon is a Lahore-based manufacturer of a range of home appliances including gas storage, gas instant, and hybrid storage water heaters, with a commitment to improving efficiency based on previous collaborations with CLASP.

Super Asia is a large Pakistani appliance manufacturer producing a wide range of products, including electric water heaters, and aiming to localize their supply chain and enhance exports. They are based out of Gujranwala.

 

Financing for Impact: CLASP Collaborates to Accelerate India’s Net Zero Transition

GOA, 22 JULY 2023 – CLASP and Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at a side-event on “Accelerating India’s Net Zero Transition through Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Cooling & Mobility” at the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM14) to support EESL’s 10 million Energy-Efficient Fans programme, which will help support India’s transition to Net Zero Carbon Emissions. The event was by members of the Ministry of Power, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, State ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa among others.

CEM14 brings together energy ministers, business leaders, policymakers, and experts from around the world to collaborate and take collective action through energy efficiency measures across sectors. During the event, Vishal Kapoor, CEO – EESL unveiled EESL’s 10 million Energy-Efficient Fan programme, which aims to transform India’s market towards energy-efficient ceiling fans. By raising the efficiency levels of the entire stock of residential ceiling fans, India could save 15% of its residential power consumption annually.

Under the partnership agreement, CLASP will support ceiling fans market transformation programme with technical assistance and capacity building to EESL on Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QAQC).

Vishal Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, EESL, said, “These partnerships and collaborations reinforce EESL’s commitment to driving energy efficiency and sustainability in various sectors. By pooling our expertise and resources with experts, we will accelerate the pace of India’s transition towards clean energy solutions. EESL remains dedicated to promoting a clean, sustainable, and inclusive energy future, while addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with energy efficiency.”

Bishal Thapa, Senior Director, CLASP, said, “A programme of this scale and nature is a true representation of the collaboration needed to keep our planet cool amid rising temperatures. CLASP applauds EESL’s efforts in bringing together several organizations, who will bring their shared expertise to work towards a single goal of enabling efficient cooling in India.”

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For media inquiries and more information, please contact:

Karishma Joseph

Communications – CLASP India

kjoseph@clasp.ngo

About CLASP:

Established in 1999, CLASP is a leading international nonprofit organization at the epicenter of collaborative efforts to combat climate change and drive the transition towards a more energy-efficient future. With a primary focus on promoting appliance efficiency for the well-being of people and the planet, CLASP aims to ensure that no one is left behind due to inefficient appliances or limited access to energy sources. The organization actively supports the achievement of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7, which aims to provide affordable and sustainable energy for all. CLASP works closely with governments and partners to empower low-income communities and improve lives in a climate-friendly manner. Through its dedicated efforts, the organization remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding access to clean energy by implementing efficiency standards and labels for appliances, lighting, and equipment. With its global presence across Washington, DC; Nairobi, Kenya; New Delhi, India; Brussels, Belgium; and Jakarta, Indonesia, CLASP operates across continents to drive positive change on a global scale.

About EESL:

A joint venture of NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation, Rural Electrification Corporation and POWERGRID, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) was set up under the Ministry of Power to facilitate implementation of energy efficiency projects. EESL is a Super Energy Service Company (ESCO) that seeks to unlock energy efficiency market in India, estimated at Rs 74,000 crore that can potentially result in energy savings of up to 20 percent of current consumption, by way of innovative business and implementation models. It also acts as the resource centre for capacity building of State DISCOMs, ERCs, SDAs, upcoming ESCOs, financial institutions, etc.

CLASP Showcases Universal Labeling Module at the European Sustainable Energy Week

On 20-22 June, CLASP Europe’s team joined the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) in Brussels to highlight the importance of energy efficiency and online energy labeling in Europe’s efforts to transition to more sustainable energy use.

In the session “Tapping the Full Potential of Energy Efficient Products via Digital Tools,” Senior Adviser Marie Baton showcased a new labeling module, which is part of a set of studies and tools which aim to improve online labeling compliance for retailers. CLASP’s labeling module, designed in conjunction with the now ready for retailers to pilot test.

Silvia Barlassina (the European Consumer Organisation), Sophie Attali (Guide Topten), Nick Dornheim (EuroCommerce), Marie Baton (CLASP), Paolo Tosoratti (European Commission), Niels Ladefoged (European Commission)

“The online labeling module provides correct, up-to-date information in the right format, in line with EU labeling regulations. Ultimately, the tool helps consumers make greener, more energy-efficient choices which will accelerate the clean energy transition, without increasing the burden on retailers.”

Nicole Kearney, CLASP Europe Director

Earlier this year, CLASP, with Center Data and Ipsos, conducted a behavior study of 4,800 European consumers across four countries to help improve online energy labeling[1]. The preliminary findings indicate that the majority of consumers would be likely or very likely to purchase an appliance online (85%) or do online research prior to visiting a brick-and-mortar shop (93%). CLASP will release the full report by the end of 2023.

As the world increasingly digitalizes, new tools can promote energy-efficient technologies. The panelists, which included speakers from the European Commission, the European Consumer Organisation, EuroCommerce, and Guide Topten, stressed the need for transparency, improved consumer awareness, and more appliance options that are sustainable and efficient.

The European Sustainable Energy Week is the biggest annual event dedicated to renewables and efficient energy use in Europe and is organised by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy in Brussels.

More information on CLASP’s online labeling module will be provided in an upcoming webinar, which will be announced in the near future.

 

 

[1] This research is being undertaken to develop recommendations for the European Commission in order to simplify energy labeling requirements for online retailers.

Guarding Against Low-Efficiency Appliances in East & Southern Africa

Across East and Southern Africa, households and businesses face increasingly frequent blackouts and rising electricity costs due to overburdened national grids. In an effort to lower energy demand, governments are implementing regulations to increase appliance efficiency levels, but face challenges ensuring products entering the market are compliant. Through UNIDO’s EELA project, CLASP is building compliance capacity throughout these regions.

Efficiency policies are limited without proper compliance

In March, CLASP joined the UNIDO Energy Efficiency Lighting & Appliances (EELA) Annual Stakeholder Forum as a technical partner, offering a workshop on compliance and joining panels on productive use and policy interventions. Most countries in East and Southern Africa are still adopting minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and developing compliance frameworks to ensure appliances entering their markets meet the MEPS.

At the Forum, Angellah Wekongo led a training on Conformity Assessments – a mechanism to protect markets at the point of entry. The Assessment involves evaluating products before market entry through product testing, certification, and registration, to check that they comply with national requirements. In addition to ensuring compliance of appliances placed on the market, a robust conformity assessment can save costs on market surveillance and provide insights into the performance of appliances on the market.

Adopting a regionally harmonized framework 

“A highlight of the meeting was voting on the adoption of the EAC/SADC region Compliance Framework that was developed by CLASP. The goal of the framework is to enable member states to effectively implement regionally harmonized energy efficiency policy measures and ultimately protect markets from non-compliant and low-quality products.”  – Angellah Wekongo

The Framework objectives are to:

  • Increase the efficiency of compliance efforts throughout the two regions;
  • Establish appropriate communication channels and collaboration between the national compliance authorities through regional centers to share compliance intelligence and resources;
  • Establish a regional product registration system;
  • Ensure adequate and accessed-by-all testing capacity in the regions;
  • Develop common practices and methodologies, and support alignment of national compliance regulations to the extent possible;
  • and foster gender equality and women’s empowerment.

All 21 SADC countries voted in favor of the Framework, and five of the six EAC countries also voted in favor. South Sudan abstained as they had yet to read the framework.

CLASP focuses on policy & productive use appliance market opportunity 

In addition to her work on compliance, Wekongo participated in a policy session about the legal, policy, and regulatory environment for energy efficient lighting and appliances. The session also shared experiences on how local markets have benefitted from harmonization of EELA policies and compliance efforts in the region.

Sam Grant, CLASP’s Director of Clean Energy Access, also moderated a session on productive use appliances to address the challenges and opportunities for market growth in the region.

To learn more about this event, visit SACREEE’s website.

Resilient Appliances for Resilient People and Planet

Our latest whitepaper, Resilient Appliances for Resilient People and Planet, explores the underrated yet critical application of quality assurance in developing and identifying climate-resilient solar appliances, thereby building communities’ resilience against climate-related risks.

In 2022, the number of people without access to energy rose for the first time, and climate change threatens to de-rail ongoing efforts. High-performing, solar-powered appliances suitable for resource-constrained settings have the dual advantage of delivering energy access to some of the most vulnerable communities that are often disconnected from the grid, while also building their resilience to climate risks like high temperatures, water scarcity and natural disasters. However, not all appliances are created equal. Only high-performing, durable and energy-efficient appliances can maximise climate resilience.

This whitepaper unpacks dimensions of quality that are important to measure and assess, such as safety, performance, durability or repairability and ease of handling e-waste. It then maps how these quality metrics can fortify products in the face of specific climate risks.

By disseminating this message on the importance of quality assurance, and supporting quality assurance programs like VeraSol, the off-grid solar sector can help ensure that life-saving appliances not only reach bottom-of-the-pyramid customers but also reliably help them withstand global climatic challenges.

Read the full whitepaper.

CLASP’s Policy Resource Center Map Shows Appliance Policy Coverage Globally

The CLASP Policy Resource Center (CPRC) contains over 1500 efficiency policies for appliances and equipment across 14 major product categories and 120 economies. The new Appliance & Equipment Policy Tracker makes the database more accessible for users unfamiliar with the CPRC interface as well as those wanting to run quick data queries without the need to download an entire dataset for further analysis.

Using the Interactive Map

Our new map enables you to quickly tabulate the number of existing policies in a specific region or economy for a single product category. Beyond generating raw policy counts, you can use the map to create visuals in the format of a global heat map showing the distribution of policies by geographic region. You may take a screenshot of the map to use in reports, presentations, or other documents requiring data visuals.

If you want to explore your query in more detail, you may follow a link directly to the CPRC where your query will be saved. From there, you can download a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with all policy information for further analysis. If you need to run a more complex search across multiple product categories or search criteria, we encourage you to enter your search directly in the CPRC to leverage more advanced filtering capabilities.

View the Map and Stay Up to Date

You can access the map here. Be sure to sign up for our Tools newsletter to stay up to date about new policy updates and product launches for the CPRC and other CLASP tools. If you have any feedback on how we can improve this tool or to report any technical issues, you may report it here.

Kenya Consumer Experience Study: Insights on Solar Appliances

Currently, the information on the penetration of off-grid solar appliances and how consumers experience and interact with them is quite limited. VeraSol recognizes that this kind of data is essential for manufacturers to design products more effectively, for sector stakeholders to identify market gaps, and for programs and policymakers to scale quality assurance (QA) efforts. Using data collected during the 2021 CLASP commissioned study on off-grid solar product usage from 4,195 surveyed households in Kenya, the VeraSol team has taken a deeper look at solar appliance data to produce new insights on ownership of and consumer experience with off-grid solar appliances in Kenya.

Key findings from this research include:

  • Top consumer considerations when purchasing solar appliances
  • Insights on ownership and projected demand for TVs, refrigerators and solar water pumps in Kenya
  • Other consumer perspectives on solar appliance affordability, accessibility, and after-sales care

Learn more in the report.

Rapid Product Assessment: A New Approach to Testing Productive Use Appliances

High-quality productive use equipment (PUE) has the potential to increase the productivity of business owners and farmers in rural and underserved communities, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and accelerate the uptake of renewable energy solutions such as solar home systems and mini-grid developments. However, these nascent PUE are complex technologies with unproven commercial paths, making it risky for off-grid solar companies and distributors to confidently invest in and deploy new PUE.

Access to reliable data and information about the performance, durability, and safety of PUE enables these market stakeholders to make informed decisions and identify high-quality, energy-efficient technologies. Responding to the market needs, VeraSol developed the Rapid Product Assessment framework, which offers a flexible, cost-effective, and timesaving approach to verify the quality of nascent PUE technologies.

The team selected egg incubators as the first trial product for the Rapid Product Assessment approach due to their potential to significantly increase the productivity of poultry farmers and rural households. VeraSol partnered with Kijani Testing, a Kenya-based research and testing facility, to conduct egg incubator testing.

Read the report for insights on the testing and evaluation processes and learnings from the egg incubator testing pilot.

PRESS RELEASE: Off-Grid Solar Products Deliver High Satisfaction for Kenyan Consumers

Nairobi, Kenya, November 16, 2021– The growth of the off-grid solar sector into a USD 1.75 billion industry, delivering energy services to 420 million global users, speaks to the sectors’ immense value. CLASP, which leads the VeraSol quality assurance initiative, commissioned a study to evaluate consumers’ experiences with off-grid solar products in Kenya, a global off-grid market leader. Overall, the consumers surveyed confirmed that off-grid solar products are indeed delivering as expected, with about 70% expressing satisfaction with solar products’ durability, price and aftersales services offered.

“It seems that years of quality assurance and consumer awareness support have had their intended impact and led to Kenya’s consumers being more discerning when purchasing solar products, which could be a significant factor in driving the high levels of user satisfaction,” says Dana Rysankova, Global Lead for Energy Access at the World Bank.

This study was the first of its kind and sought to complement existing data gathered through laboratory testing by focusing on how consumers interact with quality-verified and non-quality verified products. “This type of consumer survey is important and will continue to be critical for the sector to understand the effectiveness of adopting quality standards by interrogating the type of products that ultimately reach the consumer and the user experience (which supports the need for quality verification of products),” says Pauline Githugu, Team Leader for the UK aid-sponsored Africa Clean Energy Technical Assistance Facility.

In addition to being a key off-grid market, Kenya is also an early adopter of the IEC quality standards for solar products, making it a suitable example of the value of leveraging government support in implementing national quality assurance measures. EED Advisory conducted the consumer study by visiting and interviewing a nationally representative sample of 3915 households in early 2021 about their experiences with solar lanterns, lighting kits, home systems, and appliances. The study found that 28% of Kenyan households have access to at least one standalone off-grid solar product, with 21% using it as the primary source of lighting. Rural households were more than twice as likely to have off-grid solar products as were urban households (37% vs 16%), and seven counties (Homa Bay, Kilifi, Kitui, Machakos, Migori, Narok and Siaya) stood out as having a higher prevalence of off-grid solar products compared to the rest of the country.

The study results highlight a clear link between quality assurance and consumer satisfaction in many but not all aspects. For example, respondents indicated similar satisfaction rates with product durability for quality-verified (77%) versus non-quality verified (72%) solar lighting systems. However, for product breakdowns, a significantly higher proportion of non-quality verified solar lanterns (19%) and solar home systems (31.3%) were reported to have broken down compared to quality-verified ones (9.2% and 8.9%, respectively). There was a stark difference in repair cost, with non-quality verified lanterns over three times more expensive to repair than quality-verified lanterns in Kenya.

The study proposes building firm-level verification methods and standards, strengthening partnerships between affiliate brands and last-mile distributors, and leveraging brand integrity to predict products’ quality and service to enhance quality assurance. Read the full ‘Quality in the Off-Grid Solar Market: An Assessment of the Consumer Experience in Kenya’ report for more information.

About VeraSol

An evolution of Lighting Global Quality Assurance, VeraSol supports high-performing, durable off-grid products that expand access to modern energy services. VeraSol builds upon the strong foundation for quality assurance laid by the World Bank Group and expands its services to encompass off-grid appliances, productive use equipment, and component-based solar home systems. VeraSol is managed by CLASP in collaboration with the Schatz Energy Research Center at Humboldt State University. Foundational support is provided by the World Bank Group’s Lighting Global program, UK aid, IKEA Foundation and others. Please visit VeraSol.org for more information.

For media inquiries, please get in touch with Lisa Kahuthu at lkahuthu@clasp.ngo.

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