Nigeria is going to save about $1.3bn annually by stopping the use of air conditioners and refrigerators with energy efficiency ratios that are below globally acceptable Minimum Energy Performance Standards, the United Nations Environment Programme has said.
It disclosed this in its latest report titled, “Project Overview of Scaling-Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution Revision.”
In the report, obtained by our correspondent from the Energy Commission of Nigeria, in Abuja on Friday, the Programme Management Officer, UNEP, Brian Holuj, explained that the attainment of Nigeria’s NDC with respect to energy efficiency, would impact greatly on the country’s energy savings.
In the preliminary analysis of potential impacts of room air conditioners, with respect to the MEPS in Nigeria, the report forecast indicated that by 2040, electricity consumption by ACs would increase by 590 per cent.
It, however, stated that “basic policies can decrease this electricity demand growth to 410 per cent. Stringent policies can decrease this electricity demand growth to 275 per cent.”
It added, “Annual savings in 2040 is 12TWh (12 Terawatts-hour, that is 12,000,000 megawatts-hour) of electricity consumption, which is equivalent to five-plus power stations of 500MW each; 7.5 million tonnes of CO2; and $1.3bn on electricity bills.”
The report stated that the objectives energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling project was to conduct a market assessment on air conditioners and leverage existing data, recommend monitoring, verification and enforcement protocols, and conduct an awareness campaign for vendors and consumers.
It stated, “It is to update AC MEPS and energy labels to enhance energy efficiency and address refrigerant global warming potential, provide capacity building to strengthen compliance, train technicians on energy-efficient and climate-friendly room ACs, and recommend cooling targets in the Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Climate Agreement.”
It outlined that key components to transform the AC market to include the sales of energy efficiency of products in the market, financial incentives support adoption of the best products, monitor the market, test to verify compliance, and enforce rules.
