OPINION: REGULATIONS


GAS CONTAINMENT


The European Regulation governing the use of fluorocarbon refrigerants is being reviewed by the European Commission, which is seeking industry feedback. Hywel Davies explains


The EU F-gas Regulation aims to reduce use of man-made


greenhouse gases, particularly hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride, also known as F-gases. They are used as refrigerants, foam-blowing agents and aerosol propellants, and also as insulation gases in a range of electrical equipment. The Regulation is part of the EU’s


Kyoto Protocol commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Along with the MAC Directive 2006/ EC/40 on emissions from motor vehicle air- conditioning systems, the Regulation aims to reduce F-gas emissions in the EU significantly in 2010 – from the predicted 98m tonnes of CO2- equivalent to 75m tonnes of CO2eq. Since July 2006, the F-Gas


i0522-30 Air Curtains AW_CIBSE Magazine 190x66 12/10/2011 09:25 Page 1


Regulation has required fixed air conditioning systems containing more than 3 kg of fluorinated refrigerant gases to be inspected regularly by competent, trained and certified personnel. But this requirement had to be reviewed after five years – so the European Commission last year commissioned a report and ‘preparatory study’ to analyse the impact of the current rules and assess the need for further action to cut F-gas emissions.


The report found evidence of successful application of the use and marketing provisions, and of the labelling restrictions. But it also identifed delays in introducing training and certification provisions in some member states, and found varying levels of compliance. Unsurprisingly, some member states have yet to fully implement national enforcement provisions. There is also a growing opportunity for further action to recover F-gases from old or disused equipment. The Commission’s study also concluded that current measures will reduce F-gas emissions by about 100m tonnes of CO2eq by 2050, stabilising emissions at today’s level of 110m tonnes, a reduction of 28 % compared to the ‘business as usual’ scenario in 2020, of 44% in 2030 and of 46% in 2050 – at a cost of approx £35 per tonne. However, to achieve this, the Commission ‘calls on Member States to intensify their efforts towards rapid and proper implementation and enforcement’. Looking ahead, the report notes


that due to the accelerated phase- out of ozone-depleting substances under the Montreal Protocol, use of hydrofluorocarbons, the most common F-gases, is likely to increase


Use of certain refrigerant gases is being restricted by the EU


fourfold by 2030, with significant implications for efforts to limit the rise in global surface temperatures to 2C. The Commission therefore proposes action under the Montreal Protocol to phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons. The report also argues that new technology in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps sectors using low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants such as carbon dioxide, ammonia and hydrocarbons, offers improvements on safety, performance and cost – although in some applications or circumstances there remain ongoing challenges. These low-GWP products have


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