Market analysis of China energy efficient products

Panel: 6. Appliances, product policy and ICT

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Hu Bo, Top10 China, China
Jiayang LI, CLASP China, China
Tan ZHENG, Top10 China, China
Lei ZENG, CLASP China, China

Abstract

The Chinese total residential electricity consumption has increased more than 10% per year since 2007. This is mainly due to wider use of electric equipment. The Chinese government wishes to improve the products' energy efficiency. There are already 48 MEPS in place for residential and industrial products and the China Energy Label covers 27 products. Several rebate programs have been put into force to promote the high efficiency products.

The objective of the study "Market Analysis of China Energy Efficient Products" by Top10 and CLASP is to analyse the current market status of efficient products, calculate potential energy savings and provide policy recommendations. Nine major products were selected for the analysis: fixed and variable speed air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, TVs, rice cookers, induction cookers, monitors and copiers.

Detailed market data were gathered from a number of sources. From this large amount of data, the analysis showed that: 1) The model shares of products under each energy efficiency tier vary greatly among products and technologies. The share of the most efficient products in tier 1 shows two opposite situations - either they make up almost all of the market or there are almost none. For the products with over-representation in tier 1, flat-panel TVs, copiers, computer monitors, washing machines and refrigerators, the up-scaling of the energy efficiency tier is urgently needed. 2) The relationship between energy efficiency and capacity varies according to products, but the absolute energy consumption increases with the capacity for all the products. 3) MEPS and energy label thresholds influence pricing strategies of energy efficient products. The energy efficiency tiers have a very close relation with the retail price, which shows an increase with good energy efficiency tiers. However, the energy efficiency information has limited impacts on the price for some products.