Congrats, NSE AG. First EPD is live.
Switzerland’s NSE AG just entered the transparency arena with its debut Environmental Product Declaration for KOMBISAVE+. For grid and industrial buyers who spec protection relays and bay control, this is the credential that moves a product from “interesting” to “submit-ready.”
What launched in August 2025
NSE AG published its first product‑specific EPD covering the KOMBISAVE+ universal protection and control unit. The declaration is third‑party verified and issued by Kiwa Ecobility Experts, scoped cradle‑to‑grave, and follows the EN 50693 framework for electrical and electronic equipment. You can read the certificate on NSE’s site here: Environmental Product Declaration (PDF).
Who NSE AG serves, and why this matters
NSE AG designs protection relays and bay control for medium‑voltage distribution networks and industrial power systems. Think public utilities, heavy industry, and distributed generation where reliability, fast protection logic, and clean integrations with IEC 61850 matter. Since 2017, NSE has been part of Phoenix Contact, which signals a larger automation backbone behind the product roadmap.
Why an EPD changes the commercial math
Specs and tenders increasingly expect verified product data. A current EPD removes modeling guesswork, keeps bids moving, and prevents conservative default factors from nudging a line item out of contention. Momentum is real. The International EPD System reported more than 18,000 valid EPDs and 9,395 new publications in 2025, a clear sign that transparency is now table stakes for many categories (EPD International, 2025) (EPD International, 2025).
Work for NSE AG or competing in protection relays?
Follow us for a product-by-product analysis of KOMBISAVE+ against competitors like ABB and Siemens to see where it wins specs and how EPD coverage impacts your bids.
What the first EPD covers
The KOMBISAVE+ declaration is product‑specific rather than a broad family roll‑up, which helps spec writers who want one device, one dataset. The operator is Kiwa Ecobility Experts, and the LCA and verification are documented directly in the certificate. For teams comparing alternatives, the scope clarity and end‑of‑life modeling details make apples‑to‑apples conversations simpler during design reviews.
Competitive snapshot in protection and control
ABB shows extensive EPD coverage across electrification and control gear portfolios in public databases. We did not see a protection‑relay‑specific document directly comparable to KOMBISAVE+ in EC3 at the time of writing. That suggests NSE is catching up on transparency while picking a focused entry point.
Siemens publishes a smaller set of product EPDs for electronics and controls in EC3. Again, a relay‑specific EPD comparable to KOMBISAVE+ did not surface there today. For buyers, that means NSE’s relay now competes with verified data where others may still route to generic documents.
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories is a common relay peer, especially in North America. We did not find EC3‑listed product EPDs for SEL at this time. If that holds for your shortlist, KOMBISAVE+ gains a practical edge in submittals that score disclosure.
Where to find it, and a quick visibility check
NSE hosts the EPD on its Zertifikate page here: Environmental Product Declaration (PDF). We did not see a direct link on the KOMBISAVE+ product page during our review. Adding a prominent link there and in the product configurator will save engineers clicks and reduce RFIs. It’s a small step that pays off quickly.
What this means next
With August 2025 as the starting line, NSE AG has a credible, verifiable data point for KOMBISAVE+. That helps reps answer sustainability questionnaires without a scramble, and it helps specifiers close their models faster. The smart move now is expanding coverage to adjacent protection variants and documenting any plant‑specific parameters buyers request most. Do that, keep the EPDs easy to find, and KOMBISAVE+ stays on more shortlists. It’s definately the kind of momentum that turns a niche relay into a go‑to choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly did NSE AG publish and when?
A product‑specific EPD for the KOMBISAVE+ universal protection and control unit, issued by Kiwa Ecobility Experts in August 2025. Scope is cradle‑to‑grave following EN 50693.
Why does an EPD help a protection relay in bids?
It provides verified life‑cycle data that project teams can model directly, which reduces default penalties and speeds approvals when transparency is required.
Do close competitors show similar EPD coverage in EC3 today?
ABB and Siemens list product EPDs in EC3, yet a relay‑specific match to KOMBISAVE+ did not surface. SEL did not show EC3‑listed product EPDs at the time of our check.
Where can specifiers download the NSE EPD?
From NSE’s Zertifikate page: Environmental Product Declaration (PDF).
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
