Battery chargers (uninterruptible power supplies)

May 2024

Technical bulletin on amending the standards

Webinar – Tuesday, May 28, 1:00-2:00 pm EDT

In April 2024, the Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) updated its Forward Regulatory Plan which identifies its intention to amend Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) to introduce testing and energy efficiency standards for Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) to harmonize with the United States.

This technical bulletin has been released to initiate the consultation process and to collect stakeholder views on the requirements being considered for UPS.

Input received during this stage of the process will inform the development of the next amendments considered. In addition, NRCan will undertake a cost-benefit analysis using the best-available Canadian market data to assess the economic and environmental impacts of these new standards and to ensure Canadian consumers and businesses benefit from their implementation.

The Government of Canada intends to pre-publish a regulatory proposal in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in 2025.

Background

In Canada, battery chargers manufactured as of June 13, 2019, are subject to the Regulations. However, UPS are not currently defined as an energy-using product in the Regulations.

On August 5, 2016, the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking, which was intended to add UPS to the scope of battery chargers and introduce energy efficiency standards. NRCan had at that time intended to harmonize with the testing standard, energy efficiency standard and manufacturing dates of the U.S. DOE. However, the U.S. DOE regulations were put on hold prior to their incorporation into the U.S. Federal Register, which caused NRCan to also put its UPS regulations on hold. U.S. DOE efficiency standards were ultimately incorporated into the U.S. Federal Register on January 10, 2020, through a final rule, which expanded the scope of battery chargers to include UPS and introduced energy efficiency standards and testing standards for UPS.

Energy efficiency standards for UPS could save energy and reduce energy costs for Canadians. Efficiency standards could also reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, and help encourage manufacturers to adopt efficient product designs.

In 2021, NRCan and the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) signed the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Department of Natural Resources of Canada and the Department of Energy of the United States of America Concerning Cooperation on Energy, which acknowledges that both countries will collaborate on new and updated energy efficiency and testing standards where feasible and appropriate.

NRCan is considering amending the Regulations to harmonize with the energy efficiency standards, testing standards and manufacturing dates of the U.S.

Product description

A UPS means a battery charger consisting of a combination of convertors, switches and an energy storage that make up a power system for maintaining the continuity of load power in the case of input power failure. It is being considered that UPS be included in the scope and definition of a battery charger.

For the purposes of this bulletin, a UPS utilizes a NEMA 1-15P or NEMA 5-15P input plug and includes voltage and frequency dependent UPS (VFD UPS), voltage independent UPS (VI UPS) and voltage and frequency independent UPS (VFI UPS) but does not include back-up battery chargers.

A voltage and frequency dependent UPS (VFD UPS) means a UPS that produces an AC output where the output voltage and frequency are dependent on voltage and frequency. It does not provide corrective functions like the other types of UPS.

A voltage independent UPS (VI UPS) means a UPS that produces an AC output within a specific tolerance band that is independent of under-voltage or over-voltage variations in the input voltage without depleting the stored energy source. The output frequency of VI UPS is dependent on the input frequency, similar to a voltage and frequency dependent system.

A voltage and frequency independent UPS (VFI UPS) means a UPS where the device remains in normal mode producing an AC output voltage and frequency that is independent of input voltage and frequency variations and protects the load against adverse effects from such variations without depleting the stored energy source.

NRCan is considering harmonizing with the U.S. definitions of UPS including VFD UPS, VI UPS, VFI UPS and back-up battery chargers.

Testing standard

NRCan is considering harmonizing the testing standard for UPS with that of the U.S. using an ambulatory incorporation by reference to:

• Appendix Y1 to Subpart B, Part 430 of Title 10 to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Uniform Test Method for Measuring the Energy Consumption of Battery Chargers

This would enable NRCan to maintain harmonization with the U.S. DOE.

Energy efficiency standard

NRCan is considering harmonizing the energy efficiency standards of UPS with those of the U.S. DOE using an ambulatory incorporation by reference to an NRCan technical standards document that would reproduce:

• Paragraph 430.32(z)(3) of Subpart C, Part 430 of Title 10 to the United States Code of Federal Regulations, as amended from time to time.

This would enable NRCan to maintain harmonization with the U.S. DOE.

The energy efficiency standards under consideration for UPS are summarized in the table below.

Energy efficiency standards being considered for UPS

Product class	Nominal (rated) output power (Prated)	Energy efficiency standards (minimum efficiency)
VFD	0 W < Prated ≤ 300 W	(−1.20E-6 * P2rated) + (7.17E-04 * Prated) + 0.862
	300 W < Prated ≤ 700 W	(−7.85E-8 * P2rated) + (1.01E-04 * Prated) + 0.946
	Prated > 700 W	(−7.23E-9 * P2rated) + (7.52E-06 * Prated) + 0.977
VI	0 W < Prated ≤ 300 W	(−1.20E-8 * P2rated) + (7.19E-04 * Prated) + 0.863
	300 W < Prated ≤ 700 W	(−7.67E-8 * P2rated) + (1.05E-04 * Prated) + 0.947
	Prated > 700 W	(−4.62E-9 * P2rated) + (8.54E-06 * Prated) + 0.979
VFI	0 W < Prated ≤ 300 W	(−3.13E-8 * P2rated) + (1.96E-04 * Prated) + 0.543
	300 W < Prated ≤ 700 W	(−2.60E-8 * P2rated) + (3.65E-04 * Prated) + 0.764
	Prated > 700 W	(−1.70E-8 * P2rated) + (3.85E-06 * Prated) + 0.876

Descriptive text of efficiency standards table for accessibility:

This table is a structured set of data organized into rows and columns. It’s designed to categorize energy efficiency standards for different classes of uninterruptible power supplies based on their power output. Here’s a description that can help visualize the table:

• Layout: The table has three columns and ten rows, including the header row at the top. Each row corresponds to a specific product class and rated output power range, with the associated energy efficiency formula. This structure allows for easy reference and comparison across different product classes and power outputs.
• Columns:
  • Product Class: The first column lists types of products, which are VFD, VI, and VFI.
  • Nominal Output Power: The second column shows ranges of nominal power output for each product class, such as 0W to less than or equal to 300W, 300W to less than or equal to 700W, and greater than 700W.
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: The third column provides a mathematical formula for each product class and power range, indicating the minimum efficiency required.

Here’s the information for each row in a column-by-column format:

• Row 1:
  • Product Class: VFD
  • Nominal Output Power: rated power is greater than zero but less than or equal to 300 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -1.2×10 to the -6^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 7.17×10 to the -4^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.862
• Row 2:
  • Product Class: VFD
  • Nominal Output Power: the rated power is greater than 300 W but less than or equal to 700 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -7.85×10 to the -8^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 1.01×10 to the -4^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.946
• Row 3:
  • Product Class: VFD
  • Nominal Output Power: the rated power is greater than 700 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -7.23×10 to the -9^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 7.52×10 to the -6^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.977
• Row 4:
  • Product Class: VI
  • Nominal Output Power: rated power is greater than zero but less than or equal to 300 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -1.2×10 to the -8^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 7.19×10 to the -4^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.863
• Row 5:
  • Product Class: VI
  • Nominal Output Power: the rated power is greater than 300 W but less than or equal to 700 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -7.67×10 to the -8^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 1.05×10 to the -4^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.947
• Row 6:
  • Product Class: VI
  • Nominal Output Power: the rated power is greater than 700 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -4.62×10 to the -9^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 8.54×10 to the -6^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.979
• Row 7:
  • Product Class: VFI
  • Nominal Output Power: rated power is greater than zero but less than or equal to 300 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -3.13×10 to the -8^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 1.96×10 to the -4^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.543
• Row 8:
  • Product Class: VFI
  • Nominal Output Power: the rated power is greater than 300 W but less than or equal to 700 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -2.6×10 to the -8^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 3.65×10 to the -4^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.764
• Row 9:
  • Product Class: VFI
  • Nominal Output Power: the rated power is greater than 700 W
  • Energy Efficiency Standards: -1.7×10 to the -8^th power multiplied by the square of the rated power + 3.85×10 to the -6^th power multiplied by the rated power + 0.876

Important dates

These modifications to the Regulations would come into force six months after the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

Regulatory pathway

NRCan is considering amending the Regulations through Governor in Council amendment.

The considered changes would be pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, followed by a public comment period. The exact date for final publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II will depend on the number and nature of comments received during the public comment period. Final publications are typically within a year of their initial public comment period. These changes and the timing of publication are subject to decision-making authorities under the Energy Efficiency Act.

Labelling requirements

NRCan is not considering labelling requirements for UPS.

Verification requirements

NRCan would require that the products carry a third-party verification mark indicating that the product meets the energy efficiency standards and that information to be reported has been verified.

The verification mark is the mark of a Standards Council of Canada accredited certification body that operates an energy efficiency certification program for the product.

Reporting requirements

Energy efficiency report

The energy efficiency report for UPS would include the following information:

• Name of product (i.e., uninterruptible power supply)
• Brand name
• Model number
• Name of the manufacturer
• Name of the certification body whose verification mark would be affixed to the product
• Whether a mathematical model was used to generate any of the product specific information
• Product class (e.g., VFD UPS)
• Nominal active power, in watts (W)
• Nominal apparent power, in volt-amperes (VA)
• Nominal input voltage, in volts (V)
• Nominal output voltage, in volts (V)
• Efficiency at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of reference test load
• Average load adjusted efficiency (of the lowest and highest input dependency modes)

The Regulations apply to products imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada. This report must be submitted, by the dealer, to NRCan before the product is imported into Canada or traded inter-provincially for the first time.

Import report

A dealer who imports these products into Canada would include the following information on the customs release document:

• Name of product
• Model number
• Brand name
• Address of the dealer importing the product
• Purpose for which the product is being imported (i.e., for sale or lease in Canada without modification; for sale or lease in Canada after modification to comply with energy efficiency standards; or for use as a component in a product being exported from Canada)

Comments invited

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide stakeholders with the technical detail required to comment on the requirements under consideration for UPS.

It is important to NRCan that we engage the public and stakeholders on amendments to the Regulations. If you are aware of any manufacturer, importer, retailer, utility provider, small business, consumer group, organization, or representative of a specific group(s) of the population (including, but not limited to, women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, socio-economic status, residency, housing status, etc.), Indigenous peoples/communities, and/or other person or group that may be interested in participating in the amendment discussion and/or may be negatively impacted by this proposal, please forward them or their representative this bulletin. Please click here to register to our mailing list which is used to notify stakeholders of upcoming amendments, technical bulletins, webinar registrations, official publication in the Canada Gazette, etc.

Additional information on Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations including a current list of Standards Council of Canada accredited certification bodies can be found on the Department’s website.

We welcome your comments by September 13, 2024. All correspondence should be forwarded to:

Natural Resources Canada
Office of Energy Efficiency
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4

Email: EEregulations-reglementEE@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

Email subject:
Bulletin – UPS – ASC – May 2024 mai