Super-efficient Equipment Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative Workshop for East Africa

Power generation is the largest individual source of global greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 41% of existing energy-related CO2 emissions. Power demand will continue to grow rapidly and will rise by 60% globally by 2040 based on today’s policy ambitions. Energy efficiency is arguably the single most important lever in reducing emissions to meet our Paris goals accounting for approximately half of all emissions abatement to 2030 in the IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario. 

Over the next 30 years, the cumulative energy use of industrial electric motors, lighting and cooling (air conditioning and refrigeration) is set to grow substantially. These products already account for over 40% of current global electricity consumption. The policy tools that can curb this growth cost effectively namely; minimum energy performance standards, energy consumption labels, and incentives are well proven but governments need to be more ambitious and accelerate the implementation this package of policies to achieve their climate goals. 

 The UK and IEA are working closely with the Super-Efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative leadership team – India, Sweden and the European Commission in addition to the UK – and SEAD members to strengthen the initiative in order to coordinate international action on product energy efficiency more effectively. In particular this workshop will focus on the delivery of the UK’s COP26 Product Efficiency Call to Action.  

This Call to Action aims to double the efficiency of key products sold globally by 2030, initially focusing on four key high energy consuming products (air conditioners, refrigerators, motors and lighting). 

In East Africa, the aim is to build on, and coordinate with, the work of EELA and U4E in lighting and cooling. The ambition is to drive economic growth through sharing lived experiences and best practice for locking-in the most efficient appliances into every national energy system. 

1. Increase knowledge and awareness of SEAD and the CoP26 Call to Action in the region. 
2. Discuss the Ladder framework with key regional stakeholders working on product policy. 
3. Garner feedback on the Ladder framework in terms of the levels and how they relate to MEPS labels and incentives either in place in the region or being planned. 
4. Seek to understand and address barriers to regional harmonisation  
5. Aim to influence NDCs and long-term climate and emissions reduction strategies.