Technical Expert on Round-Robin Testing for Lighting Appliances in ASEAN
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BACKGROUND
The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an intergovernmental organisation that independently represents the 10 ASEAN Member States’ (AMS) interests in the energy sector. The Centre serves as a catalyst for the economic growth and integration of the ASEAN region by initiating and facilitating multilateral collaborations as well as joint and collective activities on energy. It is guided by a Governing Council composed of Senior Officials on Energy from each AMS and a representative from the ASEAN Secretariat as an ex-officio member. Hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, ACE office is located in Jakarta.
Part of the efforts to fulfil its function as a regional centre of excellence that builds a coherent, coordinated, focused and robust energy policy agenda and strategy for ASEAN, ACE conducts joint studies, policy dialogues and capacity buildings for ASEAN Member States to support the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2016-2025.
APAEC Phase II: 2016 – 2025 is the blueprint for enhancing energy connectivity and market integration in ASEAN to achieve energy security, accessibility, affordability, and sustainability for all AMS. These provide the regional blueprint for reducing the energy intensity of the region by 32% by 2025. One of the main program areas is Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C). One of the outcome-based strategies (OBS) under the EE&C program area is OBS 1, which aims to expand, harmonise, and promote energy efficiency standards and labelling for energy-related products.
In 2019, the 37th ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting (AMEM) endorsed the Regional Policy Roadmap for Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for Lighting. The regional policy roadmap states that by 2023, ASEAN countries aim to implement mandatory MEPS, targeting a minimum efficacy of 80 lm/W for all non-directional LED lamps, as well as linear LED and fluorescent lamps within the agreed scope. As part of adopting this regional policy, there is an imperative to conduct Round-Robin Testing (RRT) to harmonise the capabilities of testing laboratories across Southeast Asia.
RRT is pivotal as it validates the consistency and reliability of established measurement standards. The results of such interlaboratory comparisons are vital for assessing the performance of laboratories in testing lighting products, identifying issues with operations and equipment, evaluating different testing methodologies, and providing educational insights through benchmarking with other facilities.
The role of testing laboratories is critical in the implementation of MEPS, as these institutions verify the energy performance claims of lighting products. These facilities may be designated as official testing centres for enforcing MEPS regulations and for ongoing market surveillance. Consequently, it is vital to ensure that the methodologies, equipment, and expertise of laboratory personnel meet high standards. To improve testing proficiency, the common scheme applied to interlaboratory comparative tests is the RRT.
Harmonising the quality of laboratory testing across the ASEAN region establishes a robust foundation for a unified approach to market compliance, monitoring, verification, and enforcement. This standardisation also reduces costs for manufacturers and importers by eliminating the need for multiple compliance tests, thereby streamlining the regulatory process. For policymakers, the outcomes of round-robin testing provide critical insights into the capabilities of testing laboratories, enabling the comparison of their performance and the benchmarking of their domestic LED lighting products. Furthermore, the results from the RRT will be instrumental in informing the development of new mechanisms to strengthen the MEPS for lighting across ASEAN. Ultimately, this process not only facilitates the removal of trade barriers but also accelerates the transition to energy-efficient lighting, delivering substantial benefits to both the market and consumers.
Main activities of the RRT for Lighting Appliances in ASEAN include in the following activities:
- Concept note development and circulation to AMS (May 2024)
- Laboratory selection (June – July 2024)
- Guidelines development (August – September 2024)
- Preparation and testing activities by the nucleus laboratory (October 2024)
- Testing activities by the participating laboratories from Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand (November 2024 – January 2025)
- Expert analysis (November 2024 – February 2025)
- Consultation workshop with ASEAN Member States (February 2025)
- Final report development (March 2025)
Therefore, ACE is seeking an experienced expert to analyse the result of RRT and provide technical and policy recommendations, which will be beneficial in strengthening the MEPS for lighting appliances. This Term of Reference (TOR) outlines the engagement of the expert in the RRT for lighting appliances in ASEAN.
OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOMES
The primary objective of this consultancy is to provide expert technical and policy advice to improve the performance of testing laboratories in ASEAN and support the implementation of the regional policy roadmap for MEPS for lighting appliances. The expected outcomes are:
- Comparative analysis of the performance of testing laboratories in supporting the implementation of MEPS for lighting.
- Analysis of the availability and quality of testing laboratories in each AMS.
- Recommendations for improving the quality of testing laboratories across AMS.
- Review of the national policies related to MEPS for lighting appliances in each AMS.
- Recommendations of mechanisms for strengthening the regional policy roadmap of MEPS for lighting appliances.
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The scope of this consultancy will cover the following areas:
- Technical analysis of RRT, including guidelines, testing scope, testing methodology, and testing result
- Technical analysis of the performance of testing laboratories for lighting appliances in ASEAN
- Policy recommendations to implement and strengthen the MEPS for lighting appliances in ASEAN
CONSULTANT QUALIFICATION
ACE requires a consulting service provider or technical experts with proven experience and capacity to provide the necessary tasks, outputs/deliverables as described above
- At least one (1) technical expert with a postgraduate degree in electrical engineering, engineering physics, or another appropriate specialist discipline.
- At least one (1) policy expert with a postgraduate degree in energy policy and planning, public policy, international relations, or another appropriate specialist discipline.
- Proven track record of participating in or conducting RRT for lighting appliances.
- At least five (5) years of working experience in the lighting sector or energy sector.
- Strong analytical skills to analyse test results of the RRT for lighting appliances.
- Understanding of national MEPS in AMS and regional policy roadmap of MEPS for lighting appliances.
- Ability to produce detailed and comprehensible reports, including actionable recommendations for energy efficiency improvements.
- Excellent command of English and capacity to write high-quality reports in the language.
- Capacity and flexibility to complete the assignment within the required time frame.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION
Please submit the proposal alongside with Consultant’s CV or Company Profile to email with the subject: “Consultant for RRT for Lighting Appliances in ASEAN” to ACE’s Procurement Division ([email protected]) and cc to [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected] no later than 1 November 2024 (GMT+7).
We encourage early applications as the recruitment process will close upon the selection of a suitable candidate.