EU limits electricity consumption by fans. New standards expected to save 31 TWh annually

From 24 July, manufacturers may place on the EU market only industrial fans that comply with the new ecodesign requirements. The European Commission estimates that the regulations will reduce their energy consumption by 31 TWh per year by 2030. This is more than one-sixth of Poland’s current annual electricity consumption.

Rules will cover devices rated at up to 500 kW

The new rules apply to fans powered by motors with an electrical input power ranging from 125 W to 500 kW. Such devices are used in industrial plants, cooling systems and ventilation systems in large buildings, among other applications.

The regulation replaces rules that had been in force since 2011. The European Commission adopted it in July 2024, but manufacturers were given two years to adapt their products. The new requirements have applied since 24 July 2026.

The Commission estimates that, thanks to all ecodesign requirements applying to this product group, energy consumption in 2030 will be approximately 31 TWh lower per year. The new rules alone are expected to generate an additional 8 TWh in savings compared with the previous standards. By 2040, this difference is expected to increase to 14 TWh annually.

According to the Commission, 31 TWh is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of around 10 million electric cars. The total savings for companies and other users are expected to reach approximately €4 billion per year by 2030. These savings will result from lower energy bills and less frequent equipment replacement.

Efficiency at partial load also matters

The regulation introduces minimum efficiency levels for different types of fans. The requirements depend on factors including their power, design and the measurement method used.

Manufacturers must also provide information on how their equipment performs under partial-load conditions. This is intended to help designers select control systems that match the actual demand of an installation. This is important because fans do not always operate at their rated power.

In many air-handling and ventilation systems, fan output varies depending on temperature, pressure or the required rate of air exchange.

The regulation also takes variable-speed drives into account. When efficiency is calculated, a special coefficient is applied to fans equipped with this type of control system.

Spare parts must be available for at least 10 years

The new rules are not limited to energy consumption. Manufacturers and importers must also ensure access to spare parts and the information required to carry out repairs.

The list includes motors rated below 10 kW, impellers, sensors, speed controllers and bearings. These components must be replaceable without permanently damaging the fan.

Spare parts must become available no later than 24 July 2028 or two years after the first unit of a given model is placed on the market. This obligation will remain in force for at least 10 years after the final unit is sold.

Where no delivery deadline is specified in a contract or in the product documentation, a spare part will have to be delivered within six weeks of the order being placed. Software and firmware updates must remain available free of charge for at least 10 years.

Manufacturers will have five working days to consider a repair technician’s request for access to repair documentation. Once the request has been approved, the materials should be made available within one working day.

Older equipment will not disappear immediately

The rules primarily apply to new models being placed on the market. However, transitional periods have been introduced for fans installed inside other products and for spare parts.

The previous requirements may continue to be applied until 24 July 2027 to certain devices integrated into other products. Special fans intended to replace older equipment have been granted an exemption lasting until 2037.

However, such replacement parts will have to be clearly labelled. The manufacturer must state that the device does not comply with the current standards and may be used only as a replacement where no regulation-compliant alternative is available.