European Regulations for Wireless Power Transfer
Wireless power transfer (WPT) products placed on the European market must comply with several European directives covering safety, radio communication, electromagnetic compatibility, and frequency allocation. The applicable legislation depends on the design and functionality of the WPT system.
At a glance
Three directives form the basis of European compliance for most wireless power transfer systems.
- Low Voltage Directive (LVD): electrical safety requirements.
- Radio Equipment Directive (RED): applies when communication functionality is present.
- EMC Directive: ensures electromagnetic compatibility with other equipment.
- ETSI EN 303 417: key harmonized standard for WPT systems.
Regulatory Framework
The European regulatory pathway for a wireless power transfer system depends primarily on whether communication occurs between transmitter and receiver. Systems without communication are typically assessed under the Low Voltage Directive, whereas systems containing a communication channel generally fall under the Radio Equipment Directive. Regardless of the communication method, all WPT devices must comply with electromagnetic compatibility requirements.
In practice, three categories can be distinguished. The first consists of WPT systems without communication functionality. The second includes systems where communication and power transfer use the same operating frequency. The third contains systems where communication occurs at a different frequency from the power transfer signal.
The chosen system architecture determines which directives and harmonized standards must be applied before bringing a product to the European market.
Low Voltage Directive (2014/35/EU)
The Low Voltage Directive (LVD) establishes safety requirements for electrical equipment operating within specific voltage ranges. Wireless power transfer systems without communication functionality are generally assessed according to this directive.
The directive applies to electrical equipment operating between 50 V and 1000 V AC or between 75 V and 1500 V DC. Its objective is to ensure a high level of protection for users, property, and the surrounding environment.
If a product falls under the Radio Equipment Directive, the safety objectives of the Low Voltage Directive remain applicable through Article 3 of the RED.
Common Harmonized Standards
| Standard | Application |
|---|---|
| EN 60335 Series | Household and similar electrical appliances |
| EN 60335-2-52 | Electric oral hygiene products and similar devices |
| EN 60215 | Radio transmitting equipment |
| EN 62368-1 | Electronic, multimedia and ICT equipment |
Radio Equipment Directive (2014/53/EU)
Wireless power transfer systems that employ communication between transmitter and receiver must comply with the Radio Equipment Directive (RED). This directive covers safety, spectrum usage and electromagnetic compatibility.
For wireless power transfer applications, Article 3 of the RED is particularly important. It requires protection of health and safety, electromagnetic compatibility and efficient use of the radio spectrum.
One of the main objectives is to avoid harmful interference with other wireless systems while ensuring reliable operation of the WPT device.
Relevant Standards
| Standard | Scope |
|---|---|
| ETSI EN 303 417 | Wireless power transmission systems in dedicated WPT bands |
| ETSI EN 300 330 | Short-range devices and inductive systems from 9 kHz to 30 MHz |
| ETSI EN 300 220 | Short-range devices from 25 MHz to 1 GHz |
| ETSI EN 300 440 | Short-range devices from 1 GHz to 40 GHz |
| ETSI TR 103 409 | Wireless power transfer systems for electric vehicles |
| ETSI TR 103 493 | Wireless power transfer systems operating below 30 MHz |
Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (2014/30/EU)
The Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Directive establishes requirements to ensure that electrical and electronic equipment can operate without causing unacceptable electromagnetic interference to other devices. All wireless power transfer systems placed on the European market must comply with this directive.
The EMC Directive requires that equipment satisfies defined levels of electromagnetic compatibility. In practice, this means that devices should neither generate excessive electromagnetic disturbances nor be unduly affected by disturbances generated by other equipment.
The Radio Equipment Directive also requires compliance with EMC requirements. Consequently, wireless power transfer systems falling under the RED must simultaneously satisfy the EMC Directive.
Depending on the application, different harmonized standards may be used to demonstrate compliance. The ITU-R recommendations provide guidance on suitable EMC standards for wireless power transfer systems.
Common Harmonized Standards
| Standard | Application |
|---|---|
| EN 55011 | Industrial, Scientific and Medical equipment |
| EN 55012 | Vehicles, boats and combustion engines |
| EN 55014 | Household appliances and power tools |
| EN 55015 | Lighting equipment |
| EN 55032 | Multimedia equipment |
| EN 301 489 | Devices complying with RED Article 3.1(b) |
| EN 61000 Series | Series of standards for electromagnetic compatibility |
Sources
Document based on:
- A. Cloet, H. Farbakhsh, M. Kleemann, and B. Minnaert, “Recent Advancements in Technologies, Applications, and Regulations of Near-Field Wireless Power Transfer,” in IEEE Access, vol. 14, pp. 49285–49310, 2026, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3674000.