On 16 December 2013, the EU Institutions reached an informal, tentative agreement on the future EU F-Gas Regulation: Bans for HFCs with GWP≥150 are foreseen for new movable air conditioning appliances, plug-in commercial refrigeration, domestic refrigeration and the low temperature circuit of centralised commercial refrigeration systems. The GWP threshold for a similar ban for small split AC was set however much higher, described as “a missed opportunity for European companies”.
The informal agreement came after 4 rounds of informal negotiations and reflects a compromise between the distant positions of the Parliament on the one hand and Member States on the other. The tentative deal will subsequently need to be formally adopted by the European Parliament (in a plenary vote tentatively scheduled in March 2014) and the Council (EU Member States).
Besides HFC bans in some sub-sectors, a HFC phase-down - a gradually declining “cap” on bulk HFCs placed on the EU market expressed in CO2 equivalent - of 79% by 2030, as originally proposed by the European Commission a year ago, remains a key part of the regulation.
New prospects for refrigeration sub-sectors & movable AC
The agreement foresees some bans of f-gases in new equipment, especially in the refrigeration sector:
Moreover, the agreement puts an end to the use of f-gases with GWP≥2500 in stationary refrigeration as of 2020.
Missed opportunity for split AC
Unfortunately, Bas Eickhout, negotiating the file for the European Parliament, could not reach an agreement with the Council on a ban on the use of f-gases with GWP≥150 in air-conditioning, where European companies have started to invest in climate friendly alternatives.
The informal agreement, includes the following provision regarding AC:
Background & next steps
With a view to cutting f-gas emissions by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030, the European Commission issued a proposal in November 2013 to strengthen the existing EU F-Gas Regulation (2006).
The informal agreement reached by the institutions will now have to be formally adopted by the European Parliament (in a plenary vote tentatively scheduled for March 2014) and the Council (EU Member States).
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.
Besides HFC bans in some sub-sectors, a HFC phase-down - a gradually declining “cap” on bulk HFCs placed on the EU market expressed in CO2 equivalent - of 79% by 2030, as originally proposed by the European Commission a year ago, remains a key part of the regulation.
New prospects for refrigeration sub-sectors & movable AC
The agreement foresees some bans of f-gases in new equipment, especially in the refrigeration sector:
- Domestic refrigeration that contain f-gases with GWP≥150 banned as of 2015
- Hermetically sealed commercial refrigeration, that contain f-gases with GWP≥150 banned as of 2022
- Centralised systems for commercial use with overall capacity 40kW or more that contain f-gases with GWP≥150 or more banned as of 2022, except in the primary refrigerant circuit of cascade systems where fluorinated greenhouse gases with a GWP<1500 may be used
- Movable (between rooms) AC that contain f-gases with GWP≥150 banned as of 2020
Moreover, the agreement puts an end to the use of f-gases with GWP≥2500 in stationary refrigeration as of 2020.
Missed opportunity for split AC
Unfortunately, Bas Eickhout, negotiating the file for the European Parliament, could not reach an agreement with the Council on a ban on the use of f-gases with GWP≥150 in air-conditioning, where European companies have started to invest in climate friendly alternatives.
It is a missed opportunity that these European companies did not receive any support in the form of an f-gas ban in air-conditioning," said Mr Eickhout.
The informal agreement, includes the following provision regarding AC:
- Small (<3kg of f-gases) single split AC that contain f-gases with GWP≥750 banned as of 2025
Background & next steps
With a view to cutting f-gas emissions by two-thirds of today's levels by 2030, the European Commission issued a proposal in November 2013 to strengthen the existing EU F-Gas Regulation (2006).
The informal agreement reached by the institutions will now have to be formally adopted by the European Parliament (in a plenary vote tentatively scheduled for March 2014) and the Council (EU Member States).
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.
MORE INFORMATION
Dec 18, 2013, 12:56
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