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In October, the European Council and Parliament reached a political agreement to amend and strengthen the legislation that aims to phase down fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), which are used for example as refrigerants. As for now, the agreement is provisional, but it is expected to enter into force in spring 2024.
The full text of the agreement is available online, but it is highly technical and legally complex. So, a few words about what this will mean in practice is what this blog aims for.
What are fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases)?
Let us look at what F-gases are and why they are so troublesome. F-gases are synthetic and do not occur naturally in the atmosphere. They include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), which are the most common refrigerant varieties, and which are commonly used in various industrial applications, such as refrigeration, air conditioning, insulation, and electronics manufacturing.
Each F-gas has a Global Warming Potential (GWP). This is a measure used to evaluate different greenhouse gases’ potential to contribute to global warming over a specific time period, usually 100 years. It is taking into account both the ability to trap heat in the atmosphere as well as the atmospheric lifetime. It is a relative scale that compares the warming potential of a gas to that of CO2, which is assigned a GWP of 1. By comparison, F-gases (depending on type) can have a GWP in the 10s, 100s, 1000s or even 10 000s (like SF6, used as electrical insulation in some switchgears)!
Control and reduce the emissions
Due to the significant impact of F-gases on climate change, there have been international efforts to control and reduce their emissions. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, adopted in 2016, aims to phase down the production and consumption of HFCs, with the goal of mitigating their contribution to global warming. EU was already ahead in the process and in line with this, the European Union rapidly strengthened regulations and measures in order to better manage and further reduce F-gas emissions.
The agreement reached in October to amend and strengthen the regulations is welcomed, and will speed up the efforts of phasing out F-gases. It is essential to find and use alternatives with lower GWP. Swegon has already made the shift to refrigerants with GWP in the low range, for example the propane-based R290, with a GWP of 0.02. Europe as a whole has taken lead position globally in this struggle, and has sliced emissions from F-gases by 50% over the last eight years. It is heartening to realise that the EU wants to do even more and look beyond the previous regulation target date of 2030.
What is the real outcome of all this?
The new agreement will, in practice, lead to a complete phasing out of consumption of HFCs by 2050. This will be accomplished by a combination of bans at certain dates of products with high GWP, and the gradual reduction of emission quotas. As stated, the regulations are preliminary, and some grey areas still need a final clarification. But here are a few things to expect that relate to the industry of heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC):
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- There will be a complete ban, starting in 2027, of selling new small self-contained heat pump and air handling units that contain F-gases with a GWP of more than 150. This may affect some air handling units used in occupied spaces. Temporary exceptions can be made for applications that, in some way, need a refrigerant with a different flammability level, if a flammable refrigerant like R290 cannot be used for safety reasons for instance. But, it will need a solid argumentation to get an exception. We are available with all our expertise to support our customers in finding the most sustainable and safe solution for its specific application. As important as banning certain classes of products is, the diminishing F-gas quotas will drive the shift faster. The EU has a HFC licensing system with quotas that will decrease over time. At the same time, more branches will gradually be included in the quota system. In short: there will be a smaller cake every year, with an increased number to share it, resulting in an ever smaller piece for each. This will speed up the transition a lot.
- It will still be possible to offer, and sell, refrigerants with higher GWP for older units, but the cost will increase over time, due to the decreasing quotas. However, there is an opportunity in all this: the rising costs will mean that recycling of F-gases will become much more attractive. In order to keep an older unit for a while longer, choosing a recycled refrigerant may be a good way forward.
We are here to help
At Swegon, we are prepared for the coming years, and we can already provide future-compliant solutions for most of our applications. We continue to invest in further developments to progressively cover even those buildings with very specific requirements, this to ensure that no applications will be left behind. We are ready for what is to come. If you have any questions about what the regulations might mean for you, do not hesitate to contact us. We will gladly give you the support you need and suggest alternative solutions, if necessary.
Visit our blog section for more useful information on this and other topics.
