FAQ

What are your main questions about energy efficiency, market surveillance, Ecodesign, fans and transformes? Find out answers to these questions below.

Do contact the project organisers if you want to know more!

        - How can INTAS contribute to energy savings in Europe?

The INTAS project was designed to establish new methods to ensure that large industrial fans and power transformers put in service in Europe actually respect the energy performance levels defined in the European EcoDesign Directive. The large size of this product range translates into completely new problems and perspectives for market surveillance authorities. Implementing effective market surveillance methods is crucial for achieving the compliance of the products as well as a competitive market. As a result of INTAS much fewer non-compliant large fans and power transformers will be able to enter the European market, which will lead to significant energy savings compared to business-as-usual practices.

        - Why does the INTAS project focus solely on large industrial fans and transformers?

This limited choice of products is intended as a first step to test and prove the effectiveness of the developed methodology. Other categories of large industrial energy-intensive products could subsequently be better monitored by applying a similar approach. This could for example be the case of industrial water pumps, electric motors, electric ovens, ventilation units and refrigeration units.

        - How much energy savings will the INTAS project contribute to?

A study from the Ecofys consultancy found that up to 600 TWh of electricity would be saved each year by 2020 if the EcoDesign Directive were correctly implemented. The INTAS consortium estimated that yearly savings in the range of 45 TWh could be reached by ensuring proper compliance of large industrial fans and power transformers alone. This is comparable to the yearly electricity consumption of about 7 million Europeans, based on ​2013 data.

        - Who is the INTAS project addressed to?

INTAS was primarily addressed to European Market Surveillance Authorities (MSAs) on one hand, and to manufacturers of large industrial fans and power transformers destined for the European market on the other hand. MSAs will benefit from new methodologies to test the compliance of large fans and power transformers with the EcoDesign Directive in a standardised and cost-effective way. Manufacturers have an interest in being informed of the new methodologies used, so that they can ensure their products will be test-compliant and therefore able to enter in the market. Additionally the project targets other stakeholders such as governmental representatives, testing laboratories, European standardisation experts and industry associations.

        - Besides energy savings, what other benefits can be expected from the INTAS project?

The INTAS project aimed to foster a common European approach to market surveillance of product groups which have traditionally been very complicated to monitor. By succeeding, it will pave the way for other similar collaborations which will increase tenfold the effectiveness of measures otherwise undertaken individually by European member states.

        - Can I ask questions or contribute to the INTAS project?

Due to its highly technical nature, the INTAS project is effectively addressed to a small number of relevant stakeholders in Europe. This limited target audience provides the advantage of allowing direct communication between the INTAS consortium and interested individuals and organisations. Questions and suggestions will always be welcome, and should be addressed to project coordinator Ingrid Weiss from WIP - Renewable Energies at the following email address:

ingrid.weiss [at] wip-munich.de

Please note that the project end is February 2019. Organisers will be happy to provide any information and further details about the project activities and outcomes thereafter.