AN UPDATE ON FLUOROCARBONS

Provisional agreement for F-gas Regulation raises some concerns with improvements also acknowledged

The announcement that the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union have reached agreement in the 4th trilogue meeting has generated a wide range of  positive and negative comments, including from EPEE, EHPA, and ASERCOM. EFCTC, in its press release, expressed concerns on the implications of the provisionally-agreed revised F-gas Regulation, but also welcomed improved enforcement measures. The association  commented that while it recognised the need for ambitious climate action, the provisionally-agreed revised phase-down schedule coupled with F-gas product bans are unfeasible; they will undermine decarbonisation efforts and jeopardise the EU Green Deal and REPowerEU. The most concerning effect will be the delayed deployment of heat pumps and safer, more energy and resource efficient RACHP solutions.

R-454C freezer system preferred to system using CO2 as refrigerant

According to the Cooling Post, an airline caterer in Germany has selected a freezer system using R-454C (GWP 148, A2L refrigerant) in preference to one using CO2 as refrigerant.

High capacity compressors using F-gases designed for comfort cooling, extreme ambient climates and data centres

New oil free compressors using F-gas refrigerants offer high-capacity energy-efficient solutions for comfort cooling, intensive ambient environments, and data centre applications. The compressors are designed for use with either low-GWP refrigerants HFO-1234ze (mildly flammable A2L GWP 1.37 AR6 value) and R-515B (non-flammable A1, GWP 293 AR4 value), or optimised to use the non- flammable refrigerants R-134a and low-GWP R-513A (GWP 632 AR4 value), and designed for operation in heating and cooling applications at extreme temperatures.

Advanced refrigeration and heat recovery system uses F-gases for UK world class ice centre

The refrigeration system for the new ice centre in London uses an advanced heat recovery system to harness waste heat to provide supplementary heating for the building as the energy source for the snow melt pit and permafrost protection loop beneath the ice pads, and to produce domestic hot water for the centre’s visitor facilities. 

Submissions to the PFAS consultation in support of F-gases

The September newsletter reported details of the EFCTC comprehensive response to the PFAS restriction proposal and submissions and positions by German industry groups (exemptions for F-gases required for refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps) and Orgalim (crucial to avoid double regulation to ensure that there will be alternatives left for refrigerants). The consutation closed on 25 September, resulting in over 5600 submissions (see LaRFP).

UK nationwide pMDI recycling scheme launched

A UK waste management company has launched the UK’s first proven nationwide inhaler return and recycling scheme for pMDIs – a move expected to deliver significant carbon savings for the NHS in the UK. Every pressurised Metered Dose Inhaler (pMDI) thrown away contains HFCs (HFC-134a or HFC-227ea). The new scheme safely captures these gases and repurposes them for use in the refrigeration industry, where they are used to replace the need for manufactured gases.

UPCOMING EVENTS

OCTOBER 21, 2023 – World Cold Chain Symposium – Nairobi, Kenya

United Nations and Industry Team to Announce 2023 World Cold Chain Symposium (einpresswire.com)

OCTOBER 23-27, 2023 – UNEP – 35th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol – Nairobi, Kenya

Thirty-fifth Meeting of the Parties | Ozone Secretariat (unep.org)

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