Kigali Amendment

World grapples with refrigerant transition

A particular intercontinental publication has collected views from around the globe on the changeover to very low-GWP refrigerants beneath the Kigali Amendment. With the enable of neighborhood professionals, it reveals how the HFC phase-down is monitoring, the key challenges so much, and the likely solutions.

The Kigali Amendment aims to phase down HFC output worldwide by at least 80 for every cent in excess of the coming many years underneath the Montreal Protocol. The purpose is to cut down direct emissions of these gases due to the fact of their significant contribution to world warming – some HFCs are quite a few thousand instances far more powerful than CO₂ as a greenhouse fuel. And quite a few of them are made use of in refrigeration and air conditioning machines.

If completely implemented, it is believed that the Kigali Amendment could avoid up to .5°C of world wide warming by the conclude of this century. So significantly, 141 nations have signed on to the agreement, such as, most not too long ago, the US. Some, like Australia, have currently been phasing down HFCs for a variety of yrs.

To provide an update on this worldwide energy, the Centro Studi Galileo (CSG) and the Renewable Energy Institute (REI), with assistance from the IIR, UNEP OzonAction and Space, have gathered experiences from all over the globe in a exclusive publication: Advancing Kigali Plans As a result of HVACR.

As very well as sharing views from distinctive nations around the world, it analyses broader problems around HVAC&R, these as instruction in new refrigerants, and attracting much more females to the business.

The journal was distributed at Chillventa, and is formally staying launched at MOP34 – the Thirty-Fourth Meeting of the Functions to the Montreal Protocol in Montreal.

The posts and the full publication can be accessed as a result of a focused web page.

Image by Joshua Rawson-Harris on Unsplash

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By nigemord@gmail.com / November 3, 2022

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US commits to HFC phase-down

The US Senate has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, signing up for the 137 other nations that have by now ratified the treaty.

The Kigali Modification calls for a gradual reduction in the intake and manufacturing of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are strong greenhouse gases. A lot of of these are applied as refrigerants in HVAC&R methods.

“The United States is back again at the table main the combat against local climate adjust,” claims US President Joe Biden.

“As much more international locations be part of the United States in ratifying this amendment, we can prevent up to 50 % a degree Celsius of warming this century, a significant contribution to fighting local weather change and guarding communities from additional severe impacts.”

In accordance to the US State Division, environmental and small business communities strongly supported the US ratification of the Kigali Modification.

“[It] will enable to guarantee US business stays a world-wide chief in the development, production, output, and deployment of HFC alternate options,” claims the US Point out Division. “Industry estimates suggest that US ratification will guidance 33,000 new US production jobs and create $12.5 billion in new investments in the US financial state around the next decade.”

The transfer is also anticipated to give a improve for American businesses that have produced solutions to HFCs and approach to export technological innovation to abroad markets.

A lot more facts is accessible on the US Point out Department website.

Impression by Aaron Stress at Unsplash.

The write-up US commits to HFC stage-down appeared very first on HVAC&R Information.

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By nigemord@gmail.com / September 27, 2022

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Propane AC could help avoid global temperature rises

A report printed at the Proceedings of the Countrywide Academy of Sciences (PNAS) has highlighted the emissions that could be prevented by switching to propane as a refrigerant in break up-process air conditioners. The research team estimates that such a transition could avoid a .09°C raise in world-wide temperature by the close of the century.

World wide possibility

The report notes that split ACs are at this time the most applied equipment for space cooling throughout the world, and that in 2016, room cooling accounted for all-around 10 for every cent of world wide electrical energy need. Primarily based on recent trends, need from air conditioners is envisioned to triple by 2050 and the inventory of ACs would boost from about .9 billion in 2017 to above 3.7 billion in 2050.

Most of these units have HFCs, which are getting phased down globally.

“The stage-down of refrigerants with large world warming likely (GWP) prescribed by the Kigali Modification to the Montreal Protocol has triggered a main hard work to come across fewer harmful different refrigerants,” states Pallav Purohit, guide researcher on the task and senior exploration scholar in the Air pollution Management Exploration Group of the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Ecosystem Software.

“R32 is at this time the most widespread refrigerant to substitute R410A in break up ACs,” claims Purohit. “The GWP of R32 is about 1 3rd that of R410A, but however considerably increased than that of a rising number of non-fluorinated choices like propane with a GWP of <1, which have recently become commercially available for split ACs.

“While analysing the consistency of Kigali ambitions with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement goal, we have realised that propane-based residential air conditioners (ACs) are being manufactured in India and in China with cooling capacities up to 7kW. In 2020, the actual globally installed base was over one million units, mainly in India and China.

“Therefore, in this study, we show that a switch to propane as an energy-efficient and commercially available low-GWP alternative in split ACs, could avoid 0.09°C (0.06–0.12°C) increase in global temperature by the end of the century. This is significantly more than the 0.03°C (0.02–0.05°C) avoided warming from a complete switch to R32 in split ACs.”

Focus on direct emissions

The study focussed on the environmental impact of direct emissions (refrigerant leakage).

But Purohit says that in terms of indirect emissions (energy use), split ACs using propane perform similarly to those using R32, and are more efficient than currently widespread appliances using R410A and R22.

He points to another study by an International Energy Agency (IEA)-sponsored program that found domestic unitary air conditioners using propane refrigerant have a lower life-cycle climate performance (LCCP) than comparable units running with R410A, R32, and other alternatives in 11 cities around the world.

The research team has previously published a study that takes into account both direct and indirect emissions. This indicated that if technical energy efficiency improvements are fully implemented, the resulting electricity savings could exceed 20 per cent of future global electricity consumption.

“The combined effect of HFC phase-down, energy efficiency improvement of the stationary cooling technologies, and future changes in the electricity generation fuel mix would prevent 411–631Gt CO₂ of GHG emissions between 2018 and 2100, thereby making a significant contribution towards keeping the global temperature rise below 2°C,” says Purohit.

Barriers to uptake

Although there have now been many calls for greater uptake of hydrocarbons in split systems, the major manufacturers are yet to show signs of moving. Purohit believes this is largely due to safety standards regarding the use of flammable refrigerants.

“Therefore, countries are encouraged to support the adaptation according to technological improvements of these safety standards to allow larger charge sizes while including guidance on safe application,” he says.

He highlights the recent decision by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to approve an international standard on safety requirements for electric heat pumps, air conditioners and dehumidifiers for domestic use.

“This new standard allows for higher charge limits for hydrocarbons such as propane (R290) and other flammable refrigerants in domestic technology,” says Purohit, “which in turn means potentially massive reductions in the emission of climate-damaging refrigerant gases.”

The study considers the capacity of split ACs (<7kW) that will require less than the higher load of flammable refrigerants allowed by the IEC.

To read the report, click here.

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By nigemord@gmail.com / August 25, 2022

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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

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Days of R404A are numbered

Higher-GWP refrigerants could quickly be in short supply and growing in price tag as stockpiles dwindle, global pressures strike our shores, and the HFC stage-down quotas commence to chunk. And in accordance to professionals at AIRAH’s Refrigeration 2022 convention this week, that signifies it’s time for contractors to urgently swap away from R404A.

When the HFC stage-down began in January 2018, concerns ended up voiced about the risk of prices spiking – as they had carried out in Europe less than the F-Gas regulation. Individuals fears, on the other hand, proved mainly unfounded in Australia the earlier 4 years have been comparatively clean in conditions of refrigerant price ranges.

Whilst that has meant stability, business observers say that it has also produced complacency. At the “cold face”, expertise about the phase-down and the have to have to changeover to reduce-GWP refrigerants remains lower. In individual, R404A remains a common preference for small- and medium-temperature refrigeration purposes, these types of as commercial refrigeration, grocery store show instances, cold rooms, transportation refrigeration and course of action cooling.

But as the speakers at Refrigeration 2022 warned, that will before long have to improve.

Source shock coming

Sythree Director John McCormack opened proceedings with a presentation on the modifying landscape of refrigerants and the forces driving the change. He noted that the recent cost of refrigerants is decrease than really should be predicted because of to inventory stockpiled before the HFC stage-down commenced. This inventory has successfully “masked” the very first two reductions in Australia’s refrigerant import quota.

But that stockpile is shrinking. Dependent on the information in Chilly Hard Facts 2021, McCormack estimates that in 2023, Australia could be struggling with a shortfall of as a lot as 500 tonnes of refrigerant.

“Importers have a fixed quota,” he states, “and as the quota methods down they have significantly less CO₂e to promote. So they will elevate the value for better GWP items to replicate the quota they take in.”

Accordingly, McCormack expects speedy boosts for large-GWP items these kinds of as R404A and R410A. He also predicts shortages.

“When the stock is absent in the to start with fifty percent of following 12 months, importers and wholesalers will have to glimpse at what they provide. There is not more than enough quota to import ample HFCs to meet up with the demand, irrespective of the price tag. They will have to pick which shoppers they aid with their limited supply.”

Some of this stress will be eased by transferring to conveniently obtainable HFO blends that can be utilized in existing tools, these types of as replacing R404A with R449A, and changing R134a with R513A.

“This would no cost up enough quota to deal with the step downs for 2022, 2024 and 2026,” suggests McCormack, “which would give the marketplace the time to upskill for these new technologies. Of training course, this will not materialize. All the supermarkets and coldrooms simply cannot move straightaway, and neither can all the cars and trucks and other R134a products.

“We will see a supply shock. That’s when the market place will consider that this section-down is serious.”

In the meantime, other components will also put upward force on selling prices. Thanks to raw material charge boosts and international freight, virgin HFC prices have greater by about 17 for each cent. The value of distribution close to Australia has also greater sharply with rising gas rates. These costs will be handed on in the close to long term.

Shock or shift?

On day two of the meeting, Graeme Dewerson from the Pro Group presented Chilly Tricky Specifics 2021. The latest in the collection of reviews well prepared for the Office of Agriculture, Drinking water and the Atmosphere analyses info from 2020 to recognize essential developments and tendencies in the refrigeration and air conditioning marketplace.

Cold Tricky Points 2021 involves info on full refrigerant utilization in Australia compared to bulk imports. In 2017, the yr prior to the HFC phase-down began, there was a spike in imports. But in 2019 and 2020, utilization outstripped imports. Dewerson pointed out that this trend is very likely to continue until current market pre-quota stockpiles are depleted. But at that position, he explained that refrigerant recycling is possible to phase up to fill any gap between imports and usage.

In truth, some have recommended that the move away from R404A may possibly not be so a lot a shock as a change. It is imagined that recycling could create 100–200 tonnes of recycled HFCs in the event of a shortfall. Others have flagged that recycling the HFC blends is not as simple as recycling refrigerants this kind of as R22.

As observed higher than, lower GWP alternatives exist for R404A. Solutions these kinds of as R448A and R449A are immediate replacements, offering close to a 65 per cent CO₂e reduction on R404A. This means that the massive volume of R404A imported in 2020 represents a “carbon sponge” that can be transformed to other merchandise. But again, this will rely on market transitioning promptly.

Government thinking of options

Pat McInerney from the Division of Agriculture, Drinking water and the Natural environment also introduced at Refrigeration 2022, with an update on the HFC stage-down.

As well as providing some background on the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Modification that has established targets for the stage-down of HFCs globally, McInerney highlighted places where Australia may well want to consider much more action than basically restricting bulk imports.

One particular these kinds of area worries R404A. According to Cold Tricky Info 2021, 822 tonnes of R404A were being imported in 2020, in comparison to 838 tonnes in 2019 – a really slight decrease. McInerney indicated that the government has recognised the challenge, and is now wanting at means to deal with it. A single solution is a ban on selected machines styles employing R404A, although these types of bans might be difficult to carry out. In short, this piece of operate is ongoing.

Time to move

Though future govt coverage is still not apparent, the message for contractors is: the days of R404A are numbered. Professionals highlighted the will need to have conversations with buyers about this refrigerant and how soaring charges will affect their company. They also observed that the imperative is now even increased to avoid installing new devices on R404A and make investments the more dollars to move to a a lot more potential-evidence solution.

Also, there is a have to have to make awareness among practitioners about replacement merchandise, retrofit procedures, and how to optimise programs on those people products and solutions.

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By nigemord@gmail.com / May 19, 2022