Nigerian government approves new MEPS for air conditioners to take effect by 2026

Nigeria’s new MEPS will be implemented in phases and are expected to save 11.5 TWh of energy annually and 39 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2040. 

According to United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency (U4E), the Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the rollout of new Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy labelling for air conditioners. 

 

The MEPS will be implemented in phases. Three efficiency steps will be implemented over time using the Nigeria Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (NSEER), an international test method tailored for local weather conditions.  From a current performance baseline, energy efficiency is expected to improve 6% by 2026, 36% by 2029, and 48% by 2031. Furthermore, an upper limit on global warming potential of refrigerants allowed in air conditioners will take effect in 2029. 

 

The new energy efficiency standards will contribute to saving 11.5 TWh of energy annually and 39 million tonnes of CO₂ by 2040. 

 

Following the approval of the MEPS, efforts will be required to enforce its application. For instance, labels will have to be provided to manufacturers and importers of air conditioning systems, a process that is currently under discussion by the Nigerian government. In addition, the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) is planning campaigns to raise awareness among Nigerians about the benefits of energy-efficient products, educating consumers about the new MEPS and the impact of their current energy usage on electricity costs. 

 

Based on market review and consultations with industry, the ECN is confident that by 2026, all air conditioners entering the country will meet the new standard. 

 

According to an analysis by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-led Cool Coalition, the market for sustainable air conditioning and refrigeration is expected to multiply by a factor of seven in Africa by 2050. As Africa’s largest market, Nigeria’s new standard will ensure that the country is no longer a dumping ground for new inefficient air conditioners. 

 

The new standard was developed under the project “Scaling Up Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling in Nigeria’s NDC Revision”, implemented by the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) with technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) United for Efficiency (U4E) team and funding from the Clean Cooling Collaborative (CCC), and in collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). 

 

 

Source 

United for Efficiency (U4E). https://united4efficiency.org/nigerian-government-approves-new-meps-for-air-conditioners-to-boost-energy-efficiency/