EPEE

Tensions rise over EU HFC phase-down plans

As the European Union considers formidable new targets for phasing down HFC refrigerants, sector is divided about the route forward. Some teams have cautioned regulators from relocating way too speedy, but other individuals imagine the stricter phase-down is both of those achievable and attractive.

What’s on the table?

In April this 12 months, the European Fee proposed two new laws to more tightly handle fluorinated greenhouse gases and ozone depleting substances (ODS). It claimed that these modifications represented “a sizeable step to limiting international temperature increase in line with the Paris Agreement”. The F-fuel proposal, as it was known, also supported an EU determination to lower emissions by at the very least 55 for each cent by 2030 and make Europe climate-neutral by 2050.

Some steps, these as cracking down on unlawful investing and improved licensing and instruction, received wide marketplace assist. Some others, nonetheless, elevated eyebrows.

Among the most contentious ended up proposals to introduce stricter limits for the world wide warming prospective (GWP) of refrigerant in stationary split air conditioning and heat pump machines. As of 2027, systems with a rated capability up to and including 12kW containing refrigerant of 150 GWP or more would be banned. The existing artificial refrigerant of preference for split programs is R32, with a GWP of 675. Devices increased than 12kW containing refrigerant with a GWP of 750 or more would also be banned.

“Unrealistic” timeframe

The European Partnership for Strength and the Ecosystem (EPEE) has warned that the strategy, significantly from supporting the EU’s local weather aims, could undermine them. It notes that a huge roll-out of warmth pumps (such as break up-technique air conditioners) will be demanded to decarbonise buildings around the coming yrs, and that the new procedures would be an obstacle to this work.

“The proposed HFC section-down is in actuality an HFC stage-out by 2027 that would severely jeopardise an accelerated and in depth warmth pump roll out in the EU in the coming a long time.

“According to the proposal, all new machines from 2027 would have to have to instantly use around zero GWP refrigerant, this sort of as hydrocarbons or HFOs, which is an unrealistic timeline both of those in terms of technological improvement and in phrases of the required selection of installers skilled and qualified to take care of the new refrigerants, numerous of which are flammable,” reads the EPEE’s position paper on the proposed revisions to the F-Gas regulation.

The EPEE also suggests that the European Commission’s model will make a quantity of “untransparent and unrealistic” assumptions about the velocity of the refrigerant transition.

“The scope of the proposed bans would be incoherent with the proposed phase down and produce uncertainty as very well as enforcement issues for current market authorities. The distinct bans pertaining to heat pumps would be harmful to the REPowerEU targets and ought to be taken off.

“The F-Gasoline Regulation revision need to strike the stability among minimizing F-gas emissions and acquiring the EU’s local climate and energy objectives.”

Assist for stricter limits

This week, Ambiance unveiled a report titled Accelerating the EU’s Shift To Normal Refrigerant Domestic Heat Pumps, primarily based on a six-month investigation into the domestic warmth pump sector in the EU.

According to Ambiance, the intention of the study was to emphasize the possible effect of the existing HFC period-down –and of an even stricter period-down.

It is vital to notice, nevertheless, that the study excluded air-to-air and hybrid units and reversible versions.

“Following the release of the proposal, trade bodies symbolizing the interest of some of the industry’s incumbents have cautioned towards intrusive coverage motion in this realm, revamping previous fears associated to local climate aims, electrical power effectiveness and security,” reads the report.

“Our sample team interviews with heat pump producers in Europe stage to a expanding existence of primary machines companies (OEMs) throughout Europe with systems functioning with normal refrigerants in their portfolio. These corporations are diverse in size and their commitments to phasing down fluorinated gases. Corporations that have previously noticeably detached them selves from fluorinated performing fluids noted assurance in their means to promptly scale up creation and reconvert aged know-how manufacturing lines pushed by the correct policy framework. Not only are decarbonisation plan attempts noticed as paving the way for the deployment of heat pumps, but also laws affecting fluorinated greenhouse gases are held in superior regard for analyzing the route of vacation.”

Ambiance recently shared conclusions from the report throughout a livestreamed webinar. To entry the webinar, simply click here.

Image courtesy of UNEP OzonAction.

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By nigemord@gmail.com / June 30, 2022

EPEE F-Gas reforms heat pump adoption HFCs lower GWP refrigerant News phasedown refrigerant

Cooling body critical of heat pump impact from EC F-Gas reform plans

EPEE has referred to as for the European Fee to keep its existing HFC stage-down routine up to 2030 to ensure what it phone calls a practical transfer to rising warmth pump adoption across the EU

Proposals to accelerate a stage down of HFC refrigerants by reforming EU F-Fuel rules dangers undermining ambitions to boost warmth pump use in the region, cooling body EPEE warns.

A position paper released by the organisation mentioned the European Commission’s proposals to introduce stricter targets would provide to produce a period-out of HFC gas in any new methods these kinds of as warmth pumps by 2027. These adjustments are envisioned to build considerable complex and schooling challenges for European heat pump installers if executed in their current variety.

EPEE argued that the commission’s draft amendments – in their current form – risked very seriously jeopardising the EU’s local climate and power targets with regards to making internet zero buildings that can make use of the RACHP sector’s skills to help decarbonise heating.

It said, “According to the proposal, all new products from 2027 would have to have to right away use in the vicinity of zero GWP refrigerant, this sort of as hydrocarbons or HFOs, which is an unrealistic timeline both equally in conditions of technological advancement and in terms of the necessary amount of installers educated and qualified to manage the new refrigerants, many of which are flammable.”

“In addition, if new gear is now purchased making use of very low GWP HFCs then upkeep options would be considerably lowered contemplating the at present envisioned life time of tools is additional than 10 a long time. Getting to substitute fairly new machines for absence of HFCs would go from the a short while ago announced EU’s Sustainable Products and solutions Initiative.”

Definition fears

Amongst the distinct fears about the fee proposals set out by the organisation was the present wording and deficiency of clarity about some provisions and product or service bans. EPEE argued this lack of clarity could see inadequate quantities of HFCs remaining out there on the market needed to fulfill the aims of European programmes this kind of as the REPowerEU method.

This tactic seeks to set up 30 million new heat pumps throughout the EU’s member states by 2030 in a bid to restrict reliance on Russian fuel pursuing its invasion of Ukraine.

EPEE claimed in its findings, “It is critical that the needed HFC quota are created available to all warmth pump suppliers, which will need the time for a correct stage-down when supplying for reasonably priced heat pump options in all EU member states and beyond.”

The organisation claimed it hoped to see enhanced clarity on the wording of the commission’s proposals and whether or not a proposed ban on “self-contained” tools would utilize to monobloc warmth pumps of various capacities.

EPEE cited the EN 378 that notes that the self-contained phrase can be applied for a vast wide range of systems these types of as chillers, roof leading products and some split methods.

A big goal for the organisation would be to assure a distinct knowing of the how proposed laws and bans would apply in line with other restrictions and targets concentrated on securely adopting vitality effective heating and cooling.

EPEE said it would back a “balanced” period-down solution about the stricter targets proposed by the European Fee. This balanced approach must account for other EU procedures and plan these kinds of as the European Environmentally friendly Offer and REPowerEU ideas.

The organisation explained, “Maintaining the present-day section-down at minimum right up until 2030 would make sure adequate refrigerants are out there to accommodate for the necessary roll out of warmth pumps.”

A blended reaction for reforms

The organisation explained that it welcomed a lot of of the European Commission’s proposals for the F-Gas rules that would introduce new specifications around how refrigerant is managed in methods. These proposals it welcomed involved new demands about leaks checks and containment coverage, as perfectly as revised demands on reporting, certification and engineer education for managing lower GWP refrigerants that are envisioned to switch HFCs in the extended-phrase.

Having said that, EPEE stated it backed sector phone calls to rethink the proposed amendments to the phasedown prerequisites established out by the commission.

It included, “The sector has powerful problems about the possibly adverse impression of the proposal on the essential growth of weather-friendly and fossil-gasoline-free products in the heating and cooling sector.”

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By nigemord@gmail.com / June 28, 2022

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HVACR industry urges rethink over heat pumps in F-Gas refrigerant proposals

Proposed new bans and accelerated refrigerant phasedown set heat pump adoption programs at hazard, say HVACR bodies

The HVACR field has railed in opposition to EU proposals for tightened F-Gas laws that were being published on 5 April. These proposals contain an accelerated phasedown agenda and more bans on use of HFCs in heat pumps.

The European Fee has proposed accelerating the F-Gasoline phasedown further than 2030 to take out 97.6 for each cent of HFCs in the industry by 2050 together with tightened Ozone Depleting Substances proposals.

But it is the proposed ban on break up process AC and warmth pumps below 12 kW that contains GWP more than 150 by January 1 2027 that has provoked the major outcry from market. Market gurus point out that in observe this will indicate R290, which will not only demand total redesign of devices from manufacturers, but will also need installers are trained specifically in dealing with flammables.

At the very same time, break up units of a rated potential of more than 12 kW containing refrigerants with GWP of 750 or far more, are to be banned from 1 January 2027.

Both of those of these bans comprise the clause ‘except when required to meet up with protection standards’ – a level that has also come in for criticism, supplied that the EU doesnt spell out which basic safety criteria should really be applied. Many constructing specifications do not permit massive cost measurements for flammable refrigerants.

Another main alter is the inclusion of HFOs alongside HFCs in the rules for prevention of emissions, leak checks, file keeping, restoration and labelling.

Cooling and warmth pump bodies this kind of as EPEE, the European Warmth Pump Association (EHPA) and Location have issued a joint statement contacting for a renegotiation of the particulars.

Thomas Nowak, secretary typical of the EHPA claimed “We need a Heat Pump Accelerator and not a tough brake on heat pump deployment. All warmth pumps – which includes air-to-air types- want to be massively deployed and this wants to be evidently supported by all EU institutions. Today’s proposal puts the two the declared frontloading of heat pumps in the next 5 a long time as perfectly as the 2030 and 2050 deployment concentrate on at threat. It desires a major revision, if the Fee needs to accomplish its renewables focus on and wean us of fossil energy use in heating and cooling.”

Folker Franz, Director Basic of EPEE additional: “The present-day EU F-Gasoline Regulation quota now cuts HFC use by 88 for each cent by 2030. Our modelling demonstrates that this will be just more than enough to put in the essential 50 million new heat pumps by then. The EU would harm its individual bring about by even further slicing the quota: greenhouse fuel emissions from F-gases are incredibly small when in contrast with the emissions that can be saved by changing fossil fuel heating with heat pump equipment.”

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By nigemord@gmail.com / April 8, 2022