Hydrofluoroolefins

The much-awaited agreement to revise the European F-Gas Regulation (517/2014) is not expected this month.

The Trump administration is reported to be planning to restore compliance credits for US automakers that could encourage greater use of low GWP refrigerant R1234yf in car ac systems.

The EU’s F-gas phase-down remained on track in 2017, according to the latest annual update published by the European Environment Agency (EEA).

Researchers at the University of Bristol have pinpointed eastern Asia as the source of a large proportion of emissions of an ozone-depleting precursor used in the production of refrigerants.

Representatives from 22 US conservative groups have signed a letter urging President Trump not to submit the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFCs to the Senate for ratification.

Refrigerant manufacturers Chemours and Honeywell and green group NRDC have petitioned the US Supreme Court to review the DC Circuit Court of Appeals decision to block EPA bans on HFCs.

Agreement is intended to improve European availability of refrigerant for use in new and retrofit systems as market looks for lower GWP solutions.

A “natural” refrigerants support group has launched a petition calling for a faster revision of codes and standards to allow for greater use of low-GWP refrigerants in commercial refrigeration.

On 16 March, the council of ministers of the Italian government on the initiative of the Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and the Minister of Environment Gian Luca Galletti, approved a much-awaited preliminary measure to implement the EU F-Gas regulation in Italy (No. 517/2014).

Introduced on 30 November 2016 by the European Commission, the ‘Clean Energy for All Europeans’ package is a set of legislative measures to support the clean energy transition in the European Union. Accelerate Europe explains in the latest issue how this will affect market for natural refrigerant based equipment.

The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which will phase down HFC consumption in developed countries by 85% by 2036 (compared to a 2011-2013 baseline period), will enter into force on 1 January 2019.

The German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) is pushing for a ban on the new low GWP refrigerant R1233zd under a review of the European ODS Regulation.

The refrigerants R448A and the HFO R1233zd have joined a number of low GWP refrigerants classified as inert gases under revisions to Japan’s High Pressure Gas Safety Act.

New Zealand has proposed updates to its Emissions Trading Scheme (NZ ETS), which could be adopted by September 2017 and in force by 1 January 2018.

The study finds that the market has slowly recovered from past years of lackluster performance. In 2016, the China market for blowing agent is valued at RMB 6.3 Bn and around 400,000 tons of blowing agents are sold. The domestic market is expected to maintain stable growth rates through to 2021. Because of the Montreal Protocol, China will be reducing its HCFC production and consumption to 35% of baseline level in 2020. This will mean that many downstream users in the building materials market especially those making PU and XPS foams will have to switch to other blowing agents by then. This change is by no means a small one, as HCFC is still the second largest segment in 2016. With the phase out of HCFC, there will be more users switching to hydrocarbon (HC), HFC and HFO blowing agents. Through a comprehensive study of the market, this report will identify the possible opportunities available for existing and potential players looking to capitalize on this development.

ASHRAE in partnership with other international organizations has announced that registration is open for the conference on Sustainable Management of Refrigeration Technologies in Marine and Off-Shore Fisheries Sectors, April 6-8, 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Kirloskar, the Pune-based chiller manufacturer, is the first company in India to announce the use of low GWP refrigerant R1234ze(E).

EPA GreenChill webinars on natural refrigerants could be affected.

Efforts by the Asian giant to reduce HCFC and HFC consumption will move the global HVAC&R market, according to the European Commission.

The must-attend conference of the year will take place on 20 February in Tokyo, right after the Supermarket Trade Show.