The new F-gas regulation, what does it really mean?

In October, the European Council and Parliament reached a political agreement to amend and strengthen legislation aimed at progressively reducing the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) globally used for cooling.
This agreement is provisional for now, but it is expected to come into force in the spring of 2024. The full text of the agreement is available online, but it is very technical and legally complex. Therefore, this blog is dedicated to explaining what it will mean in practice.

What are fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases)?

Let's take a look at what F-gases are and why they are so problematic. F-gases are synthetic and do not occur naturally in the atmosphere. They include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), which are the most common types of refrigerants and are commonly used in various industrial processes, such as refrigeration, air conditioning, insulation, and electronics manufacturing.

Each type of F-gas has a Global Warming Potential (GWP). This is a measure used to evaluate the ability of different greenhouse gases to contribute to global warming over a certain period of time – usually 100 years. Both the ability to absorb heat in the atmosphere and the atmospheric service life are taken into account.

It is a relative scale that compares the warming potential of a gas with the warming potential of CO2, which is assigned a GWP of 1. In comparison, F-gases (depending on the type) can have a GWP in the tens, hundreds, thousands, or even 10,000 (for example, SF6, used as electrical insulation in distribution equipment)!

Emission control and reduction

Given the significant impact of F-gases on climate change, international efforts have been made to control and reduce their emissions. The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, adopted in 2016, is aimed at reducing the production and consumption of HFCs, with the goal of reducing their contribution to global warming. The European Union was already a step ahead in this process and accordingly quickly enhanced
regulations and measures to better manage and further reduce F-gas emissions.

The agreement reached in October to amend and strengthen the regulation is welcomed and will accelerate efforts to phase out F-gases. It is essential to find and use alternatives with lower GWP. Swegon has already switched to refrigerants with low GWP, such as propane-based R290, which has a GWP of 0.02. Europe as a whole has taken the lead globally in this fight and has reduced emissions from F-gases by 50% over the last eight years. It is inspiring to realize that the EU wants to do even more and look beyond the previous regulation target date of 2030.

What are the main objectives of these activities?

The new agreement will practically lead us to a complete phase-out of HFC consumption by 2025. This will be achieved by combining bans on certain dates for products with high GWP and gradually reducing emission quotas. As mentioned, the regulations are only provisional, and some unclear aspects still need to be clarified. However, here are some things to expect that will affect the heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVC) industry:
nozari:

• Starting in 2027, there will be a complete ban on the sale of new small standalone heat pumps and air handling units containing F-gases with a GWP greater than 150. This could affect air handling units used in limited spaces. Temporary exceptions may be applied in places where a refrigerant with a different flammability level is required, if such easily flammable refrigerants as R290 cannot be used, for example, for safety reasons. However, to obtain an exemption, strong justification will be required. We are available with all our knowledge to help our clients find the most sustainable and safe solution for a specific application. As important as the ban on certain products is, the reduction in F-gas quotas will accelerate the transition. The EU has an HFC licensing system with quotas that will decrease over time. At the same time, more and more industries will gradually be included in the quota system. In short: every year the piece of cake gets smaller and smaller, which is shared among an increasing number of people, resulting in each part getting smaller and smaller. This will significantly accelerate the transition.
• It will still be possible to offer and sell refrigerants with higher GWP for older equipment, but costs will increase over time due to quota reductions. However, there is also an opportunity in all this: increasing costs mean that F-gas recycling will become much more attractive. Choosing a recycled refrigerant to maintain older equipment for some time may be a good solution.

We are here for you to help

Swegon is ready for the coming years and can already offer future-proof solutions for most applications. We continue to invest in additional development to gradually cover demand for buildings with very specific requirements, ensuring that no application is left behind. We are ready for what lies ahead! If you have any questions about what the regulations might mean for you,
contact us. Our team will provide you with the necessary support and, if necessary, recommend alternative solutions.

Original: https://blog.swegon.com/en/the-new-f-gas-regulation-this-is-what-it-means