The 3rd Regional Symposium on

Alternative Refrigerants for Air-Conditioning Industry in High-Ambient

Temperature Countries; Bridging Environment, Standards and Research
Dubai, 10 & 11 September 2013

Sustainable refrigerant management in the

context of the European F-Gas Regulation
Andrea Voigt, EPEE

Table of contents
1. About EPEE
2. Refrigerant management in Europe: the EU F-gas
Regulation of 2006
3. Current state of play in Europe: the revision of EU
F-gas rules
4. Concluding remarks on the opportunities for
sustainable refrigerant management in Europe

1. ABOUT EPEE

EPEE: The full value chain of the

Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Sector
A major part of the European RAC & HP industry

> 200,000 direct employees in Europe

> 30 billion turnover in Europe

EPEE in Europe
1. Small medium
large size
entreprises
2. Over 200,000
direct employees
3. Production
throughout
Europe
4. Using all types of
refrigerants

EPEEs main current fields of activities

Promote Energy Efficiency

Ecodesign & Energy label Directives

Eco Label Directive
EPBD - Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
RES - Renewable Energies Directive
Energy Efficiency Directive

The F-Gas Regulation and its revision

Maintain and strengthen the F-Gas Regulation
Support a technically and economically feasible phase-down

Raise awareness on Market Surveillance

Importance of properly enforcing and policing legislation

Promote an HVACR association network at EU level

A diverse sector and essential to daily life

2. CURRENT STATE OF PLAY IN EUROPE:

THE EU F-GAS RULES

Why containment of HFCs?

HFCs contribute to
global warming
when released into
the atmosphere;
The consumption of
HFCs increased
with the phase-out
of HCFCs.

There is no perfect
refrigerant suitable
for all applications;
HFCs provide safe,
energy efficient and
affordable
solutions;
Containment
works.
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The EU F-Gas Regulation:

Main requirements
Containment & recovery

Preventive tightness checks:

Frequency depends on the amount of Fgas contained

Leak detection systems:

For applications containing 300kg or
more of F-gases

Record keeping (logbooks)

Recovery, recycling or destruction

Training and certification

Adequate training of personnel

handling F-gases

Mutual recognition in the EU

Minimum requirements only agreed

upon in July 2007

Reporting obligations

F-gas to be reported:
with main categories of applications

Applies to:
producers, importers and exporters of
quantities > 1to

Member States to establish

reporting systems.

Labelling

For new equipment:

Chemical abbreviation of F-gas
Weight of the refrigerant
Kyoto protocol-covered
Where applicable: product is
hermetically sealed.

Further information in the manual

(e.g. GWP)
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Containment works!
Source: EU Commission report

-44%
-28%

Business as Usual
Without F-Gas
Regulation & MAC

With F-Gas
Regulation & MAC

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Source: EU Commission report: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/f-gas/docs/report_en.pdf

A practical example on
implementation: Hungary

Hungarian Monitoring &

Certification Body

> 7600 certified personel;

1200 certified companies;
> 2000 registered operators;
> 22000 registered refrigeration
circuits

ODS and F-Gas regulations merged

into one global registration and
certification system

Web-based registration and

certification system

Barcode-ID and circuit labelling

Online track-keeping of all services

(leakage checks, maintenance, etc.)

Access to the database by authorities

Key Benefits of the F-Gas Regulation

1. Environment
Significant emission reductions despite
continuous market growth.

2. Freedom of Refrigerant Choice

There is no perfect refrigerant
Energy Efficiency Safety Affordability

3. Competence
Awareness, Training, Education of the workforce

4. Innovation
Development of sustainable alternatives
HFC technology optimization and innovation

Successful cooperation between governments

and industry
The F-Gas Regulation provides
a strong legal framework for
all EU Member States
European Industry supports
the F-Gas Regulation and
continuously works towards
sustainable,efficient
technology solutions
Heat pumps
Multifunctional Systems
Integrated building systems

3. CURRENT STATE OF PLAY IN EUROPE:

THE REVISION OF EU F-GAS RULES

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Why a revision of the F-Gas Regulation?

The existing F-Gas Regulation is expected to
stabilise emissions at todays level
The European Union aims to transition
towards a low carbon economy by 2050. This
means a 72% emission reduction for FGases, Methane, N2O in 2030.

To achieve the goals of the low carbon

roadmap more action is needed
A global phase-down of HFCs has been
discussed for several years already under the
Montreal Protocol and supported by the EU

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The need for reliable data

EPEE funded two studies:
ERIE / ARMINES (France) and SKM Enviros (UK)
research institutes

Main Focus on Refrigeration, Air-Conditioning

and Heat Pump Market (RAC):
80% of total F-Gas emissions

Analysis of 7 main sectors, 43 subsectors and 14

alternatives to currently used refrigerants.

Other key applications:

Technical & medical aerosols, foam blowing, fire
protection
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The result
Improved F-Gas rules
&
A cap and phase-down of HFCs by
65% in 2030
Fully achieve the F-gas emission
reduction goals &
Ensure sustainable management of
refrigerants
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What does the Commission propose (Nov 2012)?

Revised proposal of the current F-Gas Regulation

EU Climate Goals
Containment &
Competence
Regular leakage
checks
Certification and
training for
installers

Phase-down

Bans

HFC
Consumption
reduction

Refrigerants
with a Global
Warming
Potential
> 2500

Year 2020:
-37%
Year 2030:
-79%

HFCs in
hermetically
sealed
products
Pre-Charging

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Why A Phase-Down of HFCs?

It supports sustainable refrigerant management

A phase-down fulfills the EU Commissions

criteria for new F-gas rules:
It contributes consistently and cost-effectively to the
Europes 2050 goals in terms of climate change.
It stimulates sustainable innovation & improves market
opportunities for alternative technologies gases with lower
GWP.
It is consistent with international agreements.
It is efficient and proportionate
It takes into account the complexity of the sector and
refrigerant management

A phase-down makes economic &

environmental sense.

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HFC Bans are counterproductive

1. Finance
Consumers and industry will
pay the bill.
Overall bans in stationary
refrigeration and airconditioning applications will
increase cost by 72bn by
2030 in Europe.*

2. Competitiveness
The future of European
production sites is at stake and
with it a 30bn industry and
200,000 jobs.

3. Energy Efficiency
Minimum energy efficiency
requirements would not be met,
sacrificing energy savings and
increasing emissions.

4. Safety
Building codes and safety
standards severely restrict the
use of hazardous refrigerants.

5. Environment
Bans dont bring any clear
environmental benefits.

*Source: SKM Environs

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Focus on stationary air-conditioning

including reversible systems
Switching to non-HFC alternatives in all direct expansion airconditioning units would increase cost in Europe by 62bn and
emissions by 4.7 million tonnes of CO2-eq. by 2030 (over
80% of total cost):*
Example: medium
split air-conditioning
systems (7.1kW cooling
capacity, 2.5kg R-410A)

Cost of Switching
to non-HFC
alternatives in
the EU : 22bn
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*Source: SKM Environs

Whats next ?
Negotiations between the three EU Institutions (The
Commission, the Parliament, the Council) will start
in Q3/Q4 2013.
The Parliament is more ambitious whilst the Council
is closer to the Commission proposal
Environmental NGOs have a strong influence in Europe!

All three Institutions will need to find a compromise

Earliest possible adoption of the new rules would be
in the first half of 2014, entry into force in 2015.
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Concluding remarks
European industry supports sustainable refrigerant
management and the EU Commissions model to further
reduce the F-gas emissions:
1. There is no perfect refrigerant for all applications
2. Freedom of refrigerant choice is essential for safety, the
environment, energy efficiency and cost
3. Containment, recovery and reclaim of refrigerants need to be
further encouraged
4. Education and awareness of the workforce are essential
5. A phase-down stimulates innovation and the move towards
lower global warming technologies whilst granting flexibility
for a very complex sector.
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Thank you very much for your

attention !
Contact details:
EPEE
46 Avenue des Arts
1000 Brussels, Belgium
email: a.voigt@epeeglobal.org
Web: www.epeeglobal.org

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