A new international benchmarking analysis compares testing methods, energy efficiency metrics, and minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for air-to-water heat pumps and chillers in cooling mode across China, the European Union (EU), and the United States (US). The report, published by CLASP in July 2025, evaluates standard alignment across the world’s three largest markets for heat pump technologies.
The study finds that while all three regions use part-load testing to evaluate energy performance, each applies distinct metrics: China uses IPLVCN, the EU applies SEERON, and the US uses IPLV.SIUS. For variable-speed units, the US metric registers approximately 114% of China's, while the EU’s SEERON deviates by ±3%, indicating a high degree of comparability. For fixed-speed systems, methodological differences create a wider gap in results.
China’s newly revised standard, GB 19577-2024, introduces stricter efficiency requirements across three tiers. For non-centrifugal units, the new Tier 3 matches US Path A requirements up to 264 kW, with Tier 1 exceeding US Path B levels. EU comparisons show that while China’s Tier 3 aligns for units up to 400 kW, EU requirements remain higher above that threshold. For centrifugal units, China's Tier 1 requirements surpass US Path B above 300 kW, but Tier 3 remains below US Path A across capacities.
According to the authors, the updated GB 19577-2024 standard positions China’s MEPS to rival or surpass US and EU benchmarks for low-capacity products. However, the report notes continued room for improvement in the high-capacity range to support further international harmonization.
"These findings substantiate the evaluation consistency of modern variable-frequency technologies across regional energy efficiency standards," the report concludes.
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