Focus on refrigerant containment

Significant progress has been made in reducing leakage rates through the measures in the 2006 and 2014 F-gas regulations. It is crucial that measures in the EU F-Gas regulation that help to reduce leakage are strengthened across Europe, as leakage reduction is an effective action to reduce HFC consumption and emissions. Reduced leakage is also likely to lead to improved energy efficiency and reduced energy related GHG emissions. As part of the EPEE 2022 HFC Outlook Analysis in response to the F-gas review, the importance of refrigerant containment is highlighted. With strengthened measures, EPEE forecasts that leakage rates will continue to fall.

Voluntary and mandatory reporting according to electronic logbooks indicates that leakage rates have decreased in the period 2015 to 2020 where data is available for several member states. This is demonstrated by data from mandatory reporting in Poland.

Leakage rates evolution according to electronic logbooks sources for Poland

	2015	2020
Air-conditioning equipment (all)	5.63%	1.7%
Hydronic heat pumps	6.7%	1.74%
Commercial and industrial refrigeration	16.2%	3.71%

For more information about EPEE go to https://epeeglobal.org

Leakage rate improvements are multiplied by refrigerant average GWP reductions. EFCTC reports annually the average GWP (calculated from reported CO₂e tonnes and actual tonnes) for total supply of HFCs/ HFOs/ HCFOs to the EU market, calculated from data in the annual EEA report. Their average GWP has decreased by 35% in the period 2015 to 2020, further reducing the CO₂e of leakage emissions. The increasing adoption of lower GWP HFCs, HFC/ HFO blends, and ultra-low GWP HFOs/ HCFOs, together with further reductions in leakage rates will continue to reduce emissions.

Detecting leakage at an early stage improves containment. Leak checks and leak detection systems are required by the F-gas Regulation. Methods to improve leak detection continue to be developed and implemented. Detection and alerts for small leaks allows prompt intervention by maintenance engineers. Advanced leak detection technology with remote monitoring using a new unique software algorithm provides an alarm in the event of a potential leakage. Machine learning technology and cloud-based service improves detection rates for leakages. See Refrigeration Industry.

Inspections for large charge classified refrigeration systems in France. It has been announced that the sites classified ICPE 1185 will be scrutinised this year, i.e., those using fluorinated greenhouse gases referred to in Annex 1 of EU Regulation 571/2014 (F-gas). In 2021, one in three inspections conducted by authorities in the chemicals sector concerned refrigerants -222 inspections, 38 of which focused on illegal trade. Tracking illegal HFCs on the Internet is another objective for 2022. For more information see Genie Climatique. Explanatory note: This is applicable to installations containing more than 300 kg of fluid in a single refrigeration system. The inspection also assesses the presence of supporting documents attesting to the performance of leak checks.

 

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