F-GAS USAGE IN EUROPE IN 2013 CONTINUES TO DECREASE

According to data published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases 2013 the trend of F-Gases put on the EU market shows a further decline, for the third consecutive year since 2010, both in terms of metric tonnes (from 92 425 metric tonnes to 81 545) and CO2-equivalents (from 229.6 to 199.8 Mt CO2-eq).

Use of F-gases by EU industry fell by 2.4 % (metric tonnes) and 1.4% (CO2-eq) compared to 2012. This trend is mainly due to a HFC decrease of 2.4 % (metric tonnes) or 1.9 % (CO2-eq).

HFCs constitute 98 % of the F-Gas use in 2013, or 82 % in CO2-eq, SF6 use represents 18 % in CO2-eq, and PFC contributes to less than 1 % of the total F-gas use.

Use continues to be dominated by refrigeration and air conditioning. Foams and aerosols sectors are also significant in terms of their use of HFC in metric tonnes, while over 2007-13 there has been a strong decrease in the use of HFCs for foam.

F-Gases EU emissions still represent around 2 % from EU total GHG emissions.