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UNEP side-event, Montreal Protocol MoP-23, 21 November 2011

HFCs: A Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer Alternatives to high-GWP HFCs. UNEP side-event, Montreal Protocol MoP-23, 21 November 2011. In last decade, reports by TEAP and government bodies have examined low-GWP alternatives.

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UNEP side-event, Montreal Protocol MoP-23, 21 November 2011

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  1. HFCs: A Critical Link in Protecting Climate and the Ozone Layer Alternatives to high-GWP HFCs UNEP side-event, Montreal Protocol MoP-23, 21 November 2011

  2. In last decade, reports by TEAP and government bodies have examined low-GWP alternatives

  3. Methods for reducing the climate influence of high-GWP HFCs have been identified - 1 • High-GWPHFC are used predominantly as ODS alternatives in refrigeration, air-conditioning, foam products, fire protection, aerosols, solvent applications • In last decade, many reports by UNEP technical committees and government bodies* have identified methods to reduce climate influence of high-GWPHFCs 1. Best practices to reduce HFC emissions (containment) • Modifications in the design of products to reduce leakage and reduce quantity of HFC used in each unit. • Improvements in technical procedures and management to reduce HFC emissions during life-cycle, including capture and/or destruction of HFCs at end-of-life * For example, EC 2008; EPA 2006, 2010; FTOC 2011; GTZ 2008, 2009; IPCC-TEAP 2005; RTOC 2011; TEAP 1999, 2009, 2010; UBA 2011; UNEP 2010abc.

  4. Methods for reducing the climate influence of high-GWP HFCs have been identified - 2 2. Alternative technologies with zero or low GWPs fall into 3 categories: • Alternative methods and processes (not-in-kind) Commercially used examples: fibre insulation, dry-powder asthma inhalers, architectural designs that avoid the need for air-conditioning. • Non-HFC substances with low-GWPs Commercially used examples: hydrocarbons, ammonia, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, dimethyl ether, others. • Low-GWP HFCs HFCs with lifetimes less than a few months (low GWPs) are being introduced, e.g. HFC-1234ze, 1234yf, 1336mzz.

  5. Low-GWP alternatives and lifecycle carbon emissions • Dr Ravishankara’s presentation showed that alternatives with lifetimes <several months and low GWPs offer greatest potential to reduce HFC influence on climate • To gain climate benefits of alternative systems, their total (direct and indirect) lifecycle carbon emissions need to be lower than lifecycle emissions of HFC systems they replace • TEAP reported that specific low-GWP alternatives achieve equal or superior energy-efficiency compared to HFC systems in some sectors e.g. domestic refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, some air-conditioning systems: MAC, small AC units, small and large reciprocating chillers <7,000 kW, scroll chillers 10-1600 KW, screw chillers 100-7000 kW

  6. Low-GWP alternatives are used commercially • Low-GWP alternatives exist for some applications, but are not suitable in other applications • Further substantial R&D is needed to provide effective and affordable alternatives and relevant infrastructure • Alternatives comprise very small % of market in some sectors e.g. refrigerated transport, air-conditioning in public buildings, spray foam • But alternatives are significant % of global market in some sectors … • Existing low-GWP alternatives could be expanded to additional companies and locations in the near term, if more companies and stakeholders took necessary steps

  7. Low-GWP alternatives form a significant percentage of global market in some applications

  8. Examples of alternatives used commercially in specific applications Refrigeration Ammonia (R-717), ammonia/carbon dioxide, ammonia/water absorption, hydrocarbons (R-290 propane, R-600a isobutane, R-1270 propene), carbon dioxide (R-744), water (R-718), adsorption/absorption, cryogenic systems using nitrogen or carbon dioxide, eutectic plates based on frozen salt solution Air-conditioning in buildings Ammonia, ammonia/dimethyl ether, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, water, water/lithium bromide adsorption, zeolite/water adsorption, dessicant and evaporative cooling, microchannel heat exchangers, architectural designs that avoid the need for air-conditioning systems

  9. Examples of alternatives used commercially in specific applications Foam sector Liquid carbon dioxide, CO2/water, CO2/ethanol, CO2/hydrocarbons, isobutane, isopentane, cyclopentane, n-pentane, various pentane blands, dimethyl ether, methyl formate, formic acide, chlorinated hydrocarbons, vacuum technology, HFC-1234ze, mechanical processes, fibreglass, silicates, cellulose, wool, other fibrous insulation materials Solvent sector Aqueous systems, semi-aqueous mixtures, hydrocarbons, alcohols, solvent-free cleaning Fire protection Water, water mist, dry chemicals, foams, CO2, nitrogen, argon, fluoroketone, improved monitoring systems

  10. Case study: Alternatives used in manufacture of domestic refrigerators and freezers • Hydrocarbon technology is used in ~36% global fridge production; expected to reach ~75% by 2020 • Energy-efficient HC fridges are manufactured in many countries e.g. Argentina, China, Denmark, France, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Swaziland, Turkey, Brazil • Photos: HC fridges manufactured in China and Swaziland Photo credits: Greeenpeace, GIZ

  11. Case study: Alternatives used in manufacture of small air-conditioning units • Hydrocarbon technology adapted for small AC units • Production started in China in 2011, mainly exported to Europe. Planned in India and other countries • High energy-efficiency rating, sophisticated safety mechanisms • 180,000 such units would prevent ~560,000 tonnes CO2eq direct lifecycle emissions. Photos: UNEP DTIE, GIZ

  12. Case study: Supermarkets and food companies have pledged to use low-GWP alternatives • >800,000 hydrocarbon ice-cream freezer cabinets installed by food company in Europe, Latin America, Asia • >420,000 HC or CO2 bottle vending machines installed by soft drinks companies in China, Europe, Latin America • Supermarkets in Europe have installed ~2000 CO2 systems, ~80 ammonia systems and ~70 hydrocarbon systems. • A major supermarket chain uses alternatives in 80 stores (UK, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, USA), aims for 150 stores by 2012 • Photo: CO2 & ammonia supermarket refrigeration South Africa. Shecco, UBA

  13. Case study: Developments in vehicle AC (MAC) • MAC accounts for ~24% global GWP-weighted HFC consumption, large % emissions • Car manufacturers have evaluated HFC-152a(GWP 133), CO2 (GWP 1) and HFC-1234yf (GWP 4) • TEAP anticipates that companies’ decisions likely to be based on GWP, energy-efficiency, regulatory approval, costs, reliability, safety, other factors • US EPA plans to remove HFC-134a from SNAP list for new vehicles. National CO2 emission-reduction targets for fleet vehicles will allow credits for HFC reductions • EU MAC Directive prohibits refrigerant >150 GWP in new-type cars & light trucks approved from Jan 2011, all new vehicles from 2017

  14. There are barriers to alternatives, but also many ways to overcome them • Technical reports have identified barriers to further adoption of alternatives, such as: • Lack of suitable alternatives in specific sectors • Safety risks due to toxicity and flammability • Regulations and standards • Insufficient technical know-how in companies • Investment costs • Existing commercial uses of alternatives demonstrated that barriers can be overcome, by activities such as: R&D, revised technical standards, training and technical assistance, development of infrastructure • There is no ‘one-size-fits all’ solution

  15. Technical guidance on selecting alternatives and overcoming barriers

  16. Going forward • HFCs help to protect ozone layer, but increasing use will undermine the significant climate benefits achieved by ODS phase-out to date • Substantial amount of information about alternatives has been evaluated in existing reports. Synthesis and update is desirable; identify and target gaps • Further work needed to take advantage of alternatives, for example: • Updating estimates of climate influence of future HFC scenarios • Further analyse barriers, and how to overcome them • Further examine lifecycle impacts of options • This and other work is likely to identify more sustainable options for protecting ozone and global climate

  17. Summary • There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ alternative • Some low-GWP alternatives are used commercially in specific applications, different geographic regions • Existing systems could be used more widely • In some sectors there are no suitable low-GWP alternatives at present, but further alternatives are under development • There are barriers to the adoption of alternatives • But existing commercial uses of alternatives have demonstrated how barriers can be overcome • Going forward: consolidating existing information, addressing key gaps and barriers

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