DOE Appliance Standards for External Power Supplies

Understanding Trial Standard Levels (TSLs)

TSLs are a tool used by the DOE to set energy conservation benchmarks. Each TSL signifies a specific level of energy efficiency, with higher numbers indicating stricter requirements. These levels are determined through comprehensive analyses that consider factors like technological feasibility, economic impact, energy-saving potential, and environmental considerations.

Efficiency Levels Explained

Each TSL corresponds to a set of Efficiency Levels (ELs) for different categories of EPSs. For example, Efficiency Level 1 (EL1) aligns with the EU Code of Conduct Tier 2 for basic and low single voltage power supplies. On the other hand, Efficiency Level 4 (EL4) represents the highest level of stringency, with only 1%-5% of products meeting the criteria.

Historical Context

The Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 laid the groundwork for energy conservation standards for EPSs. The most recent update was in 2014, known as Level VI standards. The proposed DOE Level VII standards are as follows:

Advocacy and Future Directions

While the DOE believes the proposed standards are the most stringent and are both technologically feasible and economically justified, some advocates argue for even higher standards. The DOE acknowledges that products meeting these proposed standards are already commercially available, thanks in part to advancements in wide bandgap technologies like silicon carbide and gallium nitride (GaN).

Additional Benefits

Higher efficiency EPSs offer more than just energy savings. They are also smaller, cooler, and more reliable, features that will become increasingly important as the industry evolves.

Further Information

For more details on the proposed EPS standards, you can visit the regulations.gov website and refer to docket EERE-2020-BT-STD-0006.