Fans typically blow air and have a low output pressure. This distinguishes them from compressors (higher output pressure) and from pumps (act on liquids).
Ecodesign regulation 327/2011 applies to industrial fans driven by an electric motor with an input power between 125 W and 500 kW. This range covers around 5% of the nearly 4 billion fans in use in EU, but they are responsible for 80% of the electricity consumption by fans.
Different types of fans (for different applications) have different efficiencies and are therefore separately addressed in the regulation.
Smaller fans (< 125 W) are often integrated in products that are already regulated (or for which regulation is judged not effective), and are therefore excluded from the regulation. They represent more than 90% of all installed units but only 10% of total fan electricity use. Fans below 125 W, used for comfort purposes are covered by the EU ecodesign regulation for air conditioners and comfort fans (EU) 206/2010.
Very large fans (> 500 kW) sell less than 1000 units per year, but account for 10% of total fan electricity use. They are applied in e.g. cogeneration and power plants and industrial processes. The energy awareness of their end-users is very high and market forces are assumed to ensure use of energy-efficient solutions; therefore they are also excluded from the regulation.
Examples of Industrials Fans types
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Scope
A fan is defined as 'a rotary bladed machine that is used to maintain a continuous flow of gas, typically air, passing through it and whose work per unit mass does not exceed 25 kJ/kg, and which:
- is designed for use with or equipped with an electrical motor with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW (≥ 125 W and ≤ 500 kW) to drive the impeller at its optimum energy efficiency point,
- is an axial fan, centrifugal fan, cross flow fan or mixed flow fan,
- may or may not be equipped with a motor when placed on the market or put into service;'
The following table shows some examples of products in scope and out of scope
| In Scope | Out of Scope |
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Check the complete list in the Regulation.
Ecodesign Requirements
Ecodesign requirements apply to industrial fans placed on the EU market. This is mainly a responsibility for manufacturers and importers. These requirements cover product information and efficiency.
Highlights
By using more efficient industrial fans, the EU saved 28 TWh and avoided 11 million tons of CO2 emissions in 2020. This is the equivalent of the total annual energy use of around 8 million homes.
The actual efficiency of a fan depends on its power (high power fans are on average more efficient than low power fans) and type. By replacing a less efficient model with a highly efficient one, it is possible to save on average around 20% of its running costs during its lifetime (15 years).
Facts & Figures
This graphic shows the estimated sales, stock, energy consumption (primary, electric or fuel), greenhouse gas emissions, consumer expenses and business revenues for years 2010 and 2030. The estimated values inside the graph bars are those from the EIA ECO-scenario, they include the effects of ecodesign and energy labelling measures.
The difference with the business as usual (BAU) scenario without these estimated measures is shown next to the graph bar. These figures indicate the estimated savings obtained due to the measures.
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Product: Industrial Fans Measures: Regulation (EU) 327/2011 |
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SALES (x1000 units)  |
STOCK (x1000 units)  |
Electricity (TWh/a)  |
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GHG-EMISSION  |
CONSUMER EXPENSES  |
REVENUES  |
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Expected Savings
Electricity
In 2010, fans in scope of the regulation consumed 230 TWh/a of electricity. Without measures, this was expected to increase to 300 TWh/a in 2020 and 345 TWh/a in 2030. Due to the measures this can be reduced to 272 TWh/a (-9%) in 2020 and 284 TWh/a (-18%) in 2030.
Almost half of the 2030 savings come from improvements on axial fans. Another 35% comes from centrifugal backward curved fans, 11% from centrifugal forward curved fans and 4% from cross-flow fans.
Total EU27 Annual Electricity Consumption for Industrial Fans for Scenarios with and without measures (excluding double counted amounts)
Source: estimations from the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023
Note about double counting: a share of the fans covered by the Regulation are incorporated in products covered by other ecodesign Regulations (e.g. air conditioning, heat pumps …). Therefore, a part of the energy consumption / savings sown here is also included in the figures of these other products, leading to a form of double counting. To remove the double counting effect, the values shown here need to be multiplied by 0.50. Further explanations as well as figures without double counting are provided in the Ecodesign Impact Accounting Overview Report 2023.
Policy
Ongoing legislative work
Please check the ongoing initiatives on the Have your say portal.
Regulation (EU) 327/2011 of 30 March 2011 implementing Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for fans driven by motors with an electric input power between 125 W and 500 kW Text with EEA relevance.
Disclaimer: please pay attention to possible updates/changes as indicated in the Official Journal (green dot)