Will the new F-Gas regulation curb the use of the worst greenhouse gases? – Four aspects that will be decisive
By Last month, the European Commission released a proposal for a reviewed EU Regulation on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (the F-Gas Regulation), which currently represent 2.5% of the EU's climate impact. Will the proposal succeed in cutting these emissions and deliver European and global climate goals? ECOS programme manager Carolina Koronen dives into the details that will tell whether the Regulation is fit for purpose.
F-gases are a group of synthetic gases mainly used in refrigeration, air-conditioners, heat pumps, and the electricity sector. Though F-gas emissions are relatively small in terms of volume, they punch high above their weight when it comes to climate impact. The global warming potential (GWP) of some F-gases reaches thousands of times that of CO2 (CO2 equivalent or CO2-eq).
Because of their significant climate impact, F-gases are subject to global phase-down efforts through the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The agreement was signed in 2016, and ratified by 130 states and the European Union. With the review of the F-Gas Regulation, the EU aims to meet its commitments and introduce rules to drive down F-gas production and imports.
But is the Commission’s proposal bold enough to meet the EU’s international agreements and wean us off some of the world’s most potent greenhouse gases? We look at four main points of interest: the phase-down of HCFs, the bans on obsolete types of F-gases, the phase-out of SF6, and the role of standards.
HFC phase-down – firmly tightening import and production quotas
HFCs are a group of F-gases used as refrigerants in refrigeration, heat pumps and air conditioners, and their GWP is typically in the hundreds or thousands.
A key policy instrument used in the F-Gas Regulation is a quota system for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The system limits the availability of HFCs on the market and gives industries an economic incentive to explore alternatives.
The new proposal tightens this quota system and extends the phase-down targets beyond 2030, giving a long-term direction and alignment with the timeline of global commitments. The Commission’s proposal aims to reduce the amount of HFCs sold in the EU by 98% by 2050, compared to 2015. Provided the scheme is effectively enforced, it is good news for the climate.
Bans on obsolete F-gases – a missed opportunity
The current Regulation contains bans that prohibit the use of certain F-gases in specific equipment, based on their GWP. Unfortunately, the new proposal does not take the chance to introduce ambitious bans on all technically obsolete F-gases. This is a missed opportunity.
Alternative climate-friendly natural refrigerants with GWP in the range of 1-5 are readily available for most appliances and systems where F-gases are used. Natural refrigerants are, by definition, not synthetic and do not contain fluorine, which differentiates them from other low-GWP fluorinated refrigerants such as HFOs, which pose environmental risks.
Setting a ban on the use of refrigerants with a GWP greater than 5, with exceptions only where it is strictly necessary, would send a clear message to the industry that there is no future for F-gases. The GWP thresholds in the proposal are, however, set much higher, allowing the continued use of F-gases in, for example, heat pumps and refrigeration, even where non-fluorinated alternatives exist.
SF6 phase-out – needed now, not in 2031
SF6 is the most potent greenhouse gas on the planet, with a GWP of over 25,000 CO2-eq. It is used as an insulator in switchgear – a critical component of electricity grids. According to the proposal, SF6 will be phased out in new electrical equipment as of 2031. While a phase-out of SF6 is good news, it would be better to start it right away. The electricity grid is expanding quickly – a process that should be accompanied by the introduction of clean alternative gases that already exist, instead of the world’s worst greenhouse gas.
Standards – ambitious technical rules needed to make policy work in practice
No, we could not write a blog without mentioning standards! While they are not part of the F-Gas Regulation itself, robust and relevant standards will be important for its implementation. A significant barrier to the switch to climate-friendly refrigerants is found in standards that set unjustified limitations for climate-friendly refrigerants. Therefore, the F-Gas Regulation needs to be complemented by an ambitious standardisation request that ensures their timely development.
Next steps
The new F-Gas Regulation is not yet set in stone. The European Parliament and Council will now review the Commission’s proposal, which might result in changes to the final text. At ECOS, we hope that policymakers keep the ambitious plans for a phase-down of HFCs. In addition, it is still not too late for the EU to rise to the challenge and introduce bans both on SF6 and some obsolete types of F-gases. The worst greenhouse gases in the world deserve the strictest rules.
