ShareInformal agreement on the future EU F-gas Regulation
On December 16, 2013, the EU institutions reached an informal agreement on the future F-gas (fluorinated gases) Regulation which could enter into force in January 2015.
On December 16, 2013, the EU institutions reached an informal agreement on the future F-gas (fluorinated gases) Regulation which could enter into force in January 2015.
The deal came after 4 rounds of informal negotiations and will subsequently to be formally adopted by the European Parliament – in a plenary vote tentatively scheduled in March 2014 – and the Council (European Member States). It reflects a compromise between the positions of the Parliament on one hand and the Parliament on the other. The final result is being a regression from the June 2013 European Parliament Environment Committee vote; however, it is slightly more stringent than the original European Commission proposal.
A key part is the introduction of an HFC phase-down – a gradually declining “cap’ on bulk HFCs placed on the EU market expressed in CO2 equivalent – with a reduction target of 79% by 2030, as originally proposed by the European Commission one year ago. In addition to the phase-down, the deal also includes a range of HFC bans in certain applications.
The first ban is the much-touted service and maintenance ban on refrigerants with a GWP over 2500 which is now planned to come in in 2020.The ban is expected to apply to all equipment with a charge over 40t CO2 equivalent.
The agreement also includes some HFC bans in new equipment, preventing equipment to be ‘placed on the market’ in the EC if they contain HFCs. These bans comprise:
In addition, a traceability system will be introduced to better track equipment containing F-gases imported into the EU. This replaces the proposed ban on precharged systems which proved unpalatable to air conditioning manufacturers.
Parliament has also announced several elements willl undergo further review before a decision is made. Among these are the fee which will be payable by refrigerant producers, which appears to have been deferred until 2017.
The new Regulation is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the EU in the summer of 2014, and enter into force in January 2015.
www.racplus.com/news/decision-reached-on-f-gas-regulations-further-updated/8656804.article
www.r744.com/news/view/4797
The deal came after 4 rounds of informal negotiations and will subsequently to be formally adopted by the European Parliament – in a plenary vote tentatively scheduled in March 2014 – and the Council (European Member States). It reflects a compromise between the positions of the Parliament on one hand and the Parliament on the other. The final result is being a regression from the June 2013 European Parliament Environment Committee vote; however, it is slightly more stringent than the original European Commission proposal.
A key part is the introduction of an HFC phase-down – a gradually declining “cap’ on bulk HFCs placed on the EU market expressed in CO2 equivalent – with a reduction target of 79% by 2030, as originally proposed by the European Commission one year ago. In addition to the phase-down, the deal also includes a range of HFC bans in certain applications.
The first ban is the much-touted service and maintenance ban on refrigerants with a GWP over 2500 which is now planned to come in in 2020.The ban is expected to apply to all equipment with a charge over 40t CO2 equivalent.
The agreement also includes some HFC bans in new equipment, preventing equipment to be ‘placed on the market’ in the EC if they contain HFCs. These bans comprise:
- hermetically sealed new commercial refrigeration equipment containing HFCs with a GWP over 150 banned by 2020,
- centralised refrigeration systems for commercial use with a capacity above 40 kW and containing HFCs with a GWP over 150 banned by 2022 - except cascade systems where primary refrigerant only can use HFCs under 1500 GWP,
- hermetically sealed room air-conditioning systems containing HFCs banned by 2020, small split air-conditioning systems containing HFCs banned by 2022 (does not apply where GWP lower than 750). This may be brought forward to 2020, depending on the outcome of a review process.
In addition, a traceability system will be introduced to better track equipment containing F-gases imported into the EU. This replaces the proposed ban on precharged systems which proved unpalatable to air conditioning manufacturers.
Parliament has also announced several elements willl undergo further review before a decision is made. Among these are the fee which will be payable by refrigerant producers, which appears to have been deferred until 2017.
The new Regulation is expected to be published in the Official Journal of the EU in the summer of 2014, and enter into force in January 2015.
www.racplus.com/news/decision-reached-on-f-gas-regulations-further-updated/8656804.article
www.r744.com/news/view/4797