The new EU F-Gas Rules and their impact in Europe and globally

By Andrea Voigt, EPEE

Workshop on Hydrofluorocarbon ManagementBangkok – 20 & 21 April 2015

Why a Phase-Down in Europe?

• Not refrigerant specific: Based on CO2-equivalent

• Technology neutral

• Accelerates move towards lower GWP refrigerants

• Encourages containment & end-of-life recovery

• Promotes recycling

• Fosters innovation and competitiveness yet helps to reach environmental objectives

Photo: BSRIA

New F-Gas Rules in Europe: Ambitious – Yet Feasible

1. Industry generally welcomes the new rules– Provide regulatory certainty and security for investments– Drive innovation and investments in new technologies

2. Industry supports the phase-down principle– Maintains flexibility and freedom of refrigerant choice

3. Industry deplores a general lack of focus on energy efficiency – Life Cycle Climate Performance assessment should have received

more attention

4. Barriers to the uptake of lower GWP refrigerants need to be urgently tackled.– Standards, building codes, training

How Industry Assessed Feasibility: The Importance of Solid Data*

1. Market Segmentation– 7 main sectors ; 43 sub-sectors.

2. Assessment of each sub-sector– Market size, market growth rate, refrigerant charge,

leakage rates, energy efficiency and capital cost. – Evaluation of alternative refrigerants: energy efficiency,

capital, operating costs and any potential barriers to use (e.g. safety legislation).

3. Modelling of different scenarios– Assumption of refrigerant mix between now and 2040. – Phase-down scenarios assessed vs. Business-As-Usual– Assessment of economic impact in €/to of CO2SKM Enviros, Ray Gluckman et al. 2012, Phase-down of HFC consumption in the EU

Assessment of the Economic Impact

Estimated average abatement cost of the EU phase-down

€25 per tonne of CO2 saved*

* Highest Impact Scenario (widespread use of A2L refrigerants)Source: SKM Enviros (Ray Gluckman et al., 2012)

-120

-80

-40

0

40

80

€/tonne CO2 saved*

3 Top Priorities = 75% of Consumption*

Commercial Refrigeration• R-404A• 40% of consumption

Stationary A/C & Heat Pumps• R-410A, R-407C, (R-22)• 15% of consumption

Mobile A/C• R-134a• 20% of consumption

First Target in EU• Various solutions available• Will achieve 50% of EU

emission reduction goal

Major challenge• High growth rate expected• Move towards (mildly)

flammable refrigerants• Standards, Building codes,

workforce need adaptation

Has already started• EU MAC Directive drives

move towards GWP<150

*Source SKM Enviros, Ray Gluckman et al. 2012: Consumption in CO2-eq. In 2010

Expected Global Impact

• Imports into the EU need to comply with EU F-gas rules and HFC phase-down in the EU

• Short-term move away from very high GWP refrigerants such as R-404A and R-507

• Uptake of lower GWP refrigerants

• Increased use of mildly flammable and flammable refrigerants

• Adaptation of standards and building codes

• Training of the workforce

• Containment, end-of-life recovery and recycling

Conclusion

• The EU F-Gas rules will contribute to change on a global level. Also imports need to comply.

• Policy decisions need to be based on solid data.

• There is no one-size-fits-all solution: Global action needs to leave room for growth to ensure energy efficient, safe, affordable and innovative solutions.

• The framework conditions (standards – codes – training of the workforce) require adaptation

Industry has solutions, experience and a solid track

record

Join us at our side-event on Thursday to discuss global action on HFCs!

Contact details:

EPEE46 Avenue des Arts

1000 Brussels, Belgium

email: a.voigt@epeeglobal.orgWeb: www.epeeglobal.org

Twitter: @EPEESecretariat Linkedin: EPEE Secretariat

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Thank you for your attention!