As global industries push toward carbon reduction and sustainable manufacturing, display technologies are facing increasingly strict energy-efficiency requirements. Industrial displays—often high-brightness, rugged, and designed for continuous operation—must now meet new national standards to ensure lower energy consumption without compromising performance.
China’s latest standard, GB 21520-2023 – “Energy Efficiency Limits and Grades for Displays”, officially takes effect on June 1, 2024. For industrial display manufacturers, including companies such as OSCAN / Oscy Monitor, this new regulation introduces both compliance challenges and opportunities for technological advancement.
This article provides a comprehensive explanation of GB 21520-2023 and outlines how industrial display manufacturers can prepare and benefit from the new requirements.
GB 21520-2023 replaces the older 2015 edition, updating energy-efficiency requirements to:
Reduce power consumption across the display industry
Encourage adoption of more efficient technologies
Support national energy-saving and carbon-neutral goals
The standard introduces new test protocols, revised energy grades, and expanded product coverage—reflecting today’s rapid evolution in display technologies.
Unlike the older version, GB 21520-2023 applies to a much broader range of display products.
Key additions include:
OLED displays
LED integrated display terminals
DC-powered display devices
High-performance displays (such as high-resolution or HDR-capable screens)
Some specialized categories, however, remain excluded, such as:
VR/AR/MR headsets
Medical imaging displays
Cinema-grade projection equipment
KVM or console-specific display modules
This expansion means many industrial-grade devices—previously not regulated—must now meet mandatory energy standards.
GB 21520-2023 defines three energy-efficiency grades:
Level 1 — Highest efficiency
Level 2 — Standard efficiency
Level 3 — Minimum acceptable efficiency
These limits differ depending on display type (LCD, OLED, LED integrated terminals, etc.).
The standard also places new restrictions on:
On-mode power consumption
Sleep-mode power consumption
Off-mode power consumption
Industrial displays must now optimize energy behavior not only during active use, but also during idle and standby states.
To accurately measure power and efficiency, the standard introduces updated testing rules, including:
More precise measurement equipment requirements
Standardized viewing distance and brightness conditions
Additional tests for OLED and LED integrated displays
High-performance-display requirements such as:
Native resolution
Horizontal viewing angle
Color gamut coverage
HDR peak luminance
These changes ensure consistency and reliability in evaluating energy performance across various display technologies.
Manufacturers must pay close attention to certification requirements.
Key points include:
New certification aligns with GB 21520-2023, replacing the older GB 21520-2015 rule.
Existing certificates under the old standard must be converted before May 31, 2025.
After the transition deadline, outdated certificates will be suspended and eventually revoked.
Annual surveillance audits conducted after June 1, 2024 must comply with the new standard.
Certification bodies have already opened applications based on GB 21520-2023.
For display manufacturers, timely preparation is essential to maintain market access.
For companies such as OSCAN (Oscy Monitor), which specialize in industrial LCD monitors and touch displays, GB 21520-2023 introduces significant changes across product development, testing, and market positioning.
Manufacturers must adopt new design strategies to achieve higher efficiency levels, such as:
High-efficiency backlight systems (e.g., advanced LED or mini-LED designs)
Automatic Brightness Control (ABC) for dynamic power savings
Optimized driver boards and power-management ICs
Low-power display controllers and processors
Targeting Level 1 or Level 2 energy efficiency can significantly enhance product competitiveness, especially in power-sensitive industrial environments.
To meet stricter testing requirements, companies must enhance their in-house testing capabilities:
Calibration-grade luminance meters
Higher-accuracy power analyzers
Controlled lighting environments
Expanded test procedures for sleep/off-mode power
Capability to evaluate high-performance displays (HDR, wide-gamut, high-refresh-rate)
A well-equipped testing facility ensures accuracy, reduces certification risk, and shortens time to market.
Manufacturers must plan ahead for:
New-standard certification applications
Conversion of existing certifications
Annual audits aligned with GB 21520-2023
Documentation updates (specification sheets, test reports, energy labels)
Failure to comply may result in suspended certificates, delayed shipments, or lost market access.
Energy efficiency is becoming a purchasing priority for industrial clients. Manufacturers can leverage compliance to:
Promote “GB 21520-2023 Level 1 Certified” as a premium feature
Strengthen brand reputation as a green, energy-efficient supplier
Reduce customers’ long-term operating costs
Support smart-factory and environmental-sustainability initiatives
OEM/ODM partners—especially in automation, transportation, digital signage, and industrial control—actively seek low-power display solutions to meet their own energy goals.
GB 21520-2023 encourages manufacturers to pursue long-term innovation:
Smart power-management algorithms
Light-sensor-based brightness control
AI-driven display optimization
Ultra-low-power display materials
Integration with renewable-energy powered systems
Companies that embrace these advancements will be better positioned in global green-manufacturing ecosystems.
Based on industry standards and typical capabilities of established industrial display manufacturers, several strategic actions are recommended:
Identify:
Models already meeting Level 1/Level 2
Models needing redesign
High-performance displays requiring specialized testing
Focus on:
Efficient backlights
Auto brightness
Optimized PCBA power rails
Energy-efficient touch controllers
Prepare documentation early and begin certification applications immediately.
Highlight compliance in marketing:
Website product pages
Datasheets
Catalogs
OEM/ODM proposals
Trade shows and customer presentations
Build long-term competitive advantage through sustainable innovation.
GB 21520-2023 marks a significant milestone in China’s efforts to enhance energy efficiency across the display industry. For industrial display manufacturers—especially those producing rugged industrial monitors, touch displays, and high-brightness screens—the new standard represents both a compliance requirement and a strategic opportunity.
Companies that proactively adapt their designs, upgrade testing facilities, and adopt energy-efficient technologies will gain:
Stronger market competitiveness
Greater customer trust
Compliance with national sustainability trends
A future-proof product portfolio
For manufacturers like OSCAN (Oscy Monitor), aligning with GB 21520-2023 not only ensures regulatory compliance but also reinforces their position as a leading provider of efficient, reliable, and environmentally responsible industrial display solutions.
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