SharePotential for an HFC phase-down in Europe
A recent report by SKM ENVIROS carried out on behalf of EPEE has investigated the potential costs and the reduced greenhouse gas emissions from an HFC consumption phase-down on the EU refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump (RAC) markets.
A recent report by SKM ENVIROS carried out on behalf of EPEE has investigated the potential costs and the reduced greenhouse gas emissions from an HFC consumption phase-down on the EU refrigeration, air-conditioning and heat pump (RAC) markets. Its main conclusions are:
. Leakage prevention is a key strategy within HFC phase-down, since leakage creates 60% of refrigerant demand under Scenario A (base case).
. Energy efficiency remain of crucial importance since 80% of total RAC emissions in 2015 are considered to be caused by energy consumption, while only 20% are due to direct refrigerant losses (assumptions in agreement with IIR figures).
. The report shows a split of refrigerant consumption, measured in terms of tonnes of CO2 equivalent, between the 7 main RAC market sectors; the commercial refrigeration market is the largest (40% of total consumption in 2010 and 46% in 2020) followed by the mobile air-conditioning sector (20% in 2010), stationary air-conditioning and heat pump sector (15%) and industrial refrigeration sector (15%).
. Phasing down the consumption of HFC-404A could deliver early and deep cuts since the model shows that HFC-404A – mainly used in the commercial refrigeration sector – accounts for around 50% of direct emissions in the 2015-2020 period under Scenario A.
. The report draws the attention on the choice of the baseline used for the phase-down, as the 2005-2008 period used in the North American proposal within the Montreal Protocol does not take into account the increase in consumption since 2008.
. It assesses the environmental benefits of heat pumps; net emission reductions from heat pumps (compared with gas fired boilers) in 2030 could be over 150 Mtonnes CO2, compared with a 65 Mtonne reduction for HFC phase-down.
. Average cost-effectiveness of phase-down measures in the RAC sector are around 15 to 25 € per tonne CO2 eq. saved.
. Leakage prevention is a key strategy within HFC phase-down, since leakage creates 60% of refrigerant demand under Scenario A (base case).
. Energy efficiency remain of crucial importance since 80% of total RAC emissions in 2015 are considered to be caused by energy consumption, while only 20% are due to direct refrigerant losses (assumptions in agreement with IIR figures).
. The report shows a split of refrigerant consumption, measured in terms of tonnes of CO2 equivalent, between the 7 main RAC market sectors; the commercial refrigeration market is the largest (40% of total consumption in 2010 and 46% in 2020) followed by the mobile air-conditioning sector (20% in 2010), stationary air-conditioning and heat pump sector (15%) and industrial refrigeration sector (15%).
. Phasing down the consumption of HFC-404A could deliver early and deep cuts since the model shows that HFC-404A – mainly used in the commercial refrigeration sector – accounts for around 50% of direct emissions in the 2015-2020 period under Scenario A.
. The report draws the attention on the choice of the baseline used for the phase-down, as the 2005-2008 period used in the North American proposal within the Montreal Protocol does not take into account the increase in consumption since 2008.
. It assesses the environmental benefits of heat pumps; net emission reductions from heat pumps (compared with gas fired boilers) in 2030 could be over 150 Mtonnes CO2, compared with a 65 Mtonne reduction for HFC phase-down.
. Average cost-effectiveness of phase-down measures in the RAC sector are around 15 to 25 € per tonne CO2 eq. saved.