[Digital Today reporter Dae-geon Seok] Samsung Electronics said on Wednesday it has become the first South Korean company to sign the EU smart appliance energy code of conduct. The agreement, led by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), is a voluntary programme that encourages appliance makers to develop and expand the adoption of high-efficiency smart appliances. It aims to strengthen links between smart appliances and power management systems, including spreading loads during peak demand hours to respond flexibly to energy demand.

Samsung Electronics said the signing has laid the groundwork for energy cooperation with power companies across European countries. The EU is encouraging power companies to pursue energy-saving cooperation with manufacturers that sign the CoC. Samsung Electronics said it has formed partnerships with major European energy companies such as Britain’s British Gas and the Netherlands’ Coolblue, offering benefits that reduce electricity bills, and plans to further expand energy cooperation.

Samsung Electronics all-in-one washer-dryers, washing machines and dishwashers have met the EU CoC criteria and were registered as energy smart appliances (ESA) in the EU Energy Label Product Registry (EPREL). The products have a "custom scheduling" function that links with the power grid and suggests using the device during times of lower load. The EU said that from March this year, EPREL will allow users to search for grid-linked energy-optimised products as energy smart appliances. Some European countries are also running subsidy or tax benefit policies for smart appliances registered in EPREL.

Samsung Electronics is expanding high-efficiency models in the European market to strengthen its AI appliance competitiveness. Last month it launched a "Bespoke AI dishwasher" that cuts energy use by up to an additional 20 percent compared with the EU’s top energy efficiency grade A. In June it will launch a "Bespoke AI washing machine" that cuts energy use by up to an additional 65 percent compared with grade A. With "AI energy saving mode" enabled, refrigerators can cut energy use by up to 15 percent, washing machines by up to 70 percent and air conditioners by up to 30 percent.

Samsung Electronics plans to expand its range of EPREL-registered energy smart appliances to include EHS heat pumps and air conditioners. Hye-soon Yang (양혜순), a vice president at Samsung Electronics’ DA division, said, "This signing is an example that shows Samsung Electronics’ competitiveness in high-efficiency technology and efforts to expand an energy-saving ecosystem." She added, "Based on this, we will further expand energy cooperation with various power companies in Europe."