Methodology

This study follows the general structure of the MEErP as a guideline, but elaborating only those parts that are relevant in the context of this review study. Study tasks entail the following:

1. Review of amended regulation in light of technological progress, by establishing the base-cases from circulators currently in scope of amended Regulation 622/2012 (i.e. standalone circulators and circulators integrated in a product with rated hydraulic power from 1 to 2500 W) based on product categorisation in Lot 11, and by collecting data and information from relevant stakeholders on:
   1. Markets: sales, trade and acquisition/installation/repair/maintenance costs, as well as general market trends, market channels and production structure and trends in product design and features of base-cases.
   2. Users: current use-phase parameters of base-cases.
   3. Technologies: technical product description incl. Best Available Technology (BAT) and Best Not yet Available Technology (BNAT), and information regarding production and end-of-life.
   4. Design options: identification and description of aggregated clusters of design options of identified base-cases and BAT/BNAT to be taken into account according to data and information on technologies.
   5. Environmental impact assessment: assessing the environmental impacts of base-cases and the environmental benefits of substituting these technologies with BAT/BNAT, focusing only on energy impacts (incl. primary energy) and global warming potential.
2. Assessment of reusability, recyclability and recoverability for the identified base-cases and BAT/BNAT. This task will be done using some previously acknowledged methodologies as inspiration and on data gathered from the review (task 1) and on other requested input from stakeholders (e.g. disassembly of the products).
3. Technology roadmap, by establishing a relevant methodology for ErPs and in particular circulators, which can be used to identify potential technical innovations that could be applied to (i) improve energy efficiency and to (ii) increase the reusability and recyclability of the circulators. This will be based on an outlook of general technological trends, retrieved partly from task 1 (review) and task 2 (assessment of reusability, recyclability and recoverability). This task will include a feasibility assessment, where the economic benefits from these technology innovations in comparison to the base-cases and even to BAT/BNAT are identified. Furthermore, the potential environmental burdens and benefits will be also identified based on the consequences of these innovations on the circulators’ reusability and recyclability.
4. Elaborations of reports including interim report, final report and executive summary of tasks 1 and 2, including a version incorporating comments from the Commission. A separate report and a Power Point presentation of the technology roadmap (i.e. task 3) will be provided as requested by the RfP.
5. Meetings, including kick-off meeting with the Commission, stakeholder meeting and telephone meetings with relevant stakeholders and Commission’s experts, including preparation.
6. Provision of technical assistance over the contract period.
7. Project management and quality assurance.

Involvement of stakeholders

The European Commission is dedicated in giving stakeholders the opportunity to provide input to this study thereby creating a fully transparent and open process. This website is the main information exchange platform between the study-team, the Commission and the stakeholders.

Progress documents will be freely available through this website. If you register as stakeholder you will receive notifications on website updates. Furthermore, as stakeholder, you can provide direct feedback to draft reports published on this website and make suggestions for energy-related products. Please note that your comments and suggestions may be made public on this website. You can also provide other non-public comments directly to the study team.

If you have already registered as a stakeholder via e-mail, you will automatically be registered on the website as well, so will not have to sign up again.