Page 19 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2017 publication
P. 19
Winter 2017 European Energy Innovation 19
TV & DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Photo: © Freepik
Photo: © manufuture2017.eu – Edmond Mäll that energy consumption will be There is no evidence that recent high-performance models would not
decreasing by 15% at least until 2025.1 technological improvement rates be able to comply with the proposed
can be upheld in the future. In limits of the draft regulation, these
These efforts must be further fact, it is unlikely judging from the would only be available for European
supported by an adequate currently available technology. consumers to a much lesser extent.
regulatory framework, and
DIGITALEUROPE insists that any The proposed regulation is based on Facing reality: The way forward
requirement for market access a false assumption: it presumes that requires taking stock of the realistic
regulations must be realistic. In its energy performance of displays would improvement rates in energy
current state, the draft Energy Label improve annually by 7.5% on a linear consumption while remaining open
regulation is a missed opportunity. basis. This incorrect analysis is most towards technological innovations.
likely based on the improvement rates
The impact of the proposed measures identified during the phase-out of Indeed, had the developments within
would be disproportionate and even cold-cathode fluorescent (CCFL) lamps, the last 6 years been linear, an average
more dramatic for televisions and which led to massive energy efficiency improvement rate of 6.9% would have
monitors with the most sophisticated gains for the whole sector. However, been achieved. However, reality is far
and high-end features. Instead of the phasing out of an old technology from being linear, and current energy
targeting the least efficient models and does not happen every year, and the efficiency standards for displays are
making them redundant, it will prevent technological improvements rate very close to the technically achievable
a large part of innovative and energy- should not be considered constant, nor limit. Future potential savings are thus
efficient products from being sold taken for granted. very hard to predict as they can only
in the EU and will, therefore, reduce occur when new technologies become
the variety of products available to In fact, further improvement of display available and when the market is ready
European consumers. LED backlighting is hardly possible, to adopt them.
and new display technologies are yet
If the proposed measures go through, to mature. It is hence difficult to foresee It is essential for a regulatory
over 90% of displays, evaluated as whether other upgrades could prolong framework to guarantee the freedom
being energy-efficient today, will be the energy improvement trend. to innovate and to enable products
marked with the energy-efficiency to develop and mature as expected
labels F and G. The proposed In addition, the growing consumer in a normal design and production
standards would, therefore, mislead demand for displays with high- cycle. Regulation must be considered
consumers and limit the effectiveness performance features such as wider only when these conditions are not
of the energy label as a purchase screen or connectivity functionalities met, or if there’s been a significant
decision-making tool. must also be considered. As numerous market failure. To lessen the negative
1. Third study regarding the ICT-related energy consumption in Germany with forecasts for the years 2015, 2020 and 2025, Fraunhofer IZM and Borderstep Institut
on behalf of the BMWi, 2016.
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