REFRIGERANTS
Back to the future
The European Parliament has voted to put in place further amendments to F-gas regulations that will see an outright ban on fluorinated gases in refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment over the next five years. The report from GEA examines what this means for all types of equipment currently using F-Gases and makes a case for a switch to natural refrigerants.
T
ackling climate change is a massive challenge. Synthetic refrigerants such as fluorocarbon gases (F-gases)
- including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) – are a major factor contributing to global warming, with CFCs and HCFCs being amongst the most damaging in terms of harming the ozone layer and their GWP. To help meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions synthetic refrigerants need to be replaced, particularly by large energy users in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical sectors. Led by the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Safety (ENVI), the ambitious new targets for phasing out F-gases mark a drive towards Europe being climate neutral by 2050.
Industries need to adjust to natural
refrigerants to comply with regulations, especially with the EU adding to the phase out plans new-generation refrigerants such as HFOs that break down into per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
14 May 2023 •
www.acr-news.com
Greens/European Free Alliance MP Bas Eickhout said: “We are making the prospects of phasing out F-gases more ambitious. Europe has indicated that we want to be climate neutral by 2050. Well, that means that F-gases should be eradicated. The end-game is very clear to all the markets. To speed up the end of F-gases, we are putting bans for specific sectors like refrigeration, like air conditioning, like heat pumps.”
One of the most imminent bans applies to stationary refrigerators and freezers for commercial use (self-contained equipment) – due to come into force as soon as 1 January 2024, with other classes of equipment following in January of each subsequent year up to 1 January 2028.
With polar ice caps and glaciers melting, rising
sea levels and entire coastlines under threat due to global warming, natural refrigerants offer minimal environmental impact. With Europe signposting an almost complete move away from synthetic gases, ammonia, hydrocarbon and CO2
refrigerants offer the most energy-
efficient and cost-saving solutions when compared to their synthetic counterparts. Companies can switch to natural refrigerants to cut greenhouse gas emissions (Kyoto Protocol) and protect the ozone layer (Montreal Protocol) by discontinuing the use of F-gases and meeting the EU’s phasing out deadline of January 1, 2028.
As Bas Eickhout added: “Stationary
refrigeration no longer requires the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases, as there is an abundance of natural refrigerant alternatives available.”
Climate friendly low charge refrigerants bring- ing low-cost chilling capacity
Ammonia is the go-to natural refrigerant, easily and quickly replacing those that are being phased out. Most cooling systems using synthetic greenhouse gases can be converted to natural refrigerants that are environmentally- friendly and have no impact on global warming (GWP) or ozone depletion (ODP). Beyond any doubt, it is better to invest in natural refrigerant-
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