This workshop was part of the project “Local Development and Promotion of LED Technologies for Advanced General Lighting in Vietnam” (LED project), supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and UNDP.
This is the third in a series of workshops on implementation of the energy labeling program with an aim to introduce, guide and discuss energy labeling regulations to be readily prepared for compulsory labeling of LED lighting products as of 1 January 2020.
Within the framework of the Energy labeling program for electrical equipment and appliances implemented by the MOIT since 2006, the LED Project has supported the MOIT to develop regulations and roadmap for labeling and certification of LED lighting products. To implement this program, the project continues to support the MOIT to develop a methodology to determine the appropriate energy efficiency levels and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan for the implementation of the LED lighting product labeling program.
At the same time, the project also assists LED lamp manufacturers, importers to select LED products and prepare applications for the labeling program during a voluntary period. The goal of Energy Labeling Program and application of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) is to achieve a minimum cumulative saving of around VND 10 trillion (US$ 480 million) and a reduction of 34 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2030. Electricity saving will be about 6,000 GWh per year, that reduces the demand for electricity generated from two coal-fired power plants with a capacity of 500 MW (equivalent to US$ 1 billion invested in coal based power plant).
The LED Project is being implemented with the goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by transforming lighting markets towards LED lighting products in Vietnam. The project has supported Vietnam to develop and transfer LED technology and market sustainability through developing TCVN standards for LED lamps; directly supporting 2 lamps producers in improving product design capacity and production process and product quality and demonstrating the installation and replacement of locally produced LEDs for indoor and street lighting.
It is expected that the project will contribute to direct GHG emissions reduction of 69.38 kilotons CO2 by 2020 and 5.154 million tons by 2030, contributing to reducing GHG emissions of the Vietnamese lighting industry and to the efforts to implement the Paris Agreement Implementation Action Plan on Climate Change in Vietnam.
At the seminar, Nguyen Van Thao, Director General of the HTD Center, confirmed that this is a right time implementing the energy labeling program for LED lighting products. The support of the LED project in the past two years has brought about a positive change in the experience and production level as well as the transformation of the Vietnamese lighting market towards LED technology, a state-of-the-art lighting technology nowadays.
Meanwhile, Dao Xuan Lai, Head of UNDP Climate Change and Environment of UNDP, said that energy intensity in Vietnam is high, with an average of 1.15-1.2 kWh/USD. Vietnam has great energy saving potential. The lighting industry accounts for 25% of total electricity consumption and potential for electricity saving is about 10-15%. Energy Labeling is an effective tool to promote energy efficiency and contribute to ensure energy security...The involvement of businesses in policy-making in general, and the labeling of LED lighting products in particular contributes positively to strengthening the enforcement of laws and regulations of the Government.
Dang Hai Dung, a representative of the Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed, "Implementing energy efficiency labeling and certification for LED lighting products is not only to implement the Law on Energy Efficiency and Conservation and Decision No. 04/2017/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister stipulating the list of equipment and appliances to which the mandatory energy labeling and minimum energy efficiency standards are applied, but also to gradually stabilize and improve LED lighting products in Vietnam.
Sharing international experience on energy labeling and certification for LED lighting products at the workshop, UNDP's international expert, My Ton emphasized the need to obtain sufficient market data to identify the appropriate parameters and characteristics such as efficacy, lifetime, and rendering index (CRI) for LED labeling suitable for both large and small manufacturers and importers. At the same time, raising awareness of providing consumers with necessary information on LED labeling is also important, contributing to the effective implementation of the energy labeling program and minimizing the penetration of low-quality LED products to the market. LED bulbs have an average lifetime of 25,000 to 50,000 hours, equivalent to 12 years of use if they are used 12 hours a day and can save electricity from 50% to 70% of electricity monthly.
Reported by Chung Anh