Refrigerant Phase Outs – The Next Round - HFCs

Jane Gartshore and Stephen Benton from Cool Concerns

Here we go again. 

Jane Gartshore from Cool Concerns explains the refrigerant phase outs in detail

As an industry we are well used to phasing out widely used refrigerants and finding workable alternatives.  We probably did not think so at the time, but we had plenty of notice to decide which the best alternatives were in both new and existing systems and to efficiently deploy them.   For example we had to stop using R22 in new systems at the end of 1999, but had up to the start of this year to service them.     

And here we go again!   The revised EU Fluorinated Gas regulation introduces bans and quotas on HFCs as well as changes in supply and leak test regimes.   This will force industry to move away from high global warming potential (GWP) HFCs with a speed and uncertainty we have not seen in previous phase out scenarios. 

Bans and restrictions

The service bans and restrictions on the use of some HFCs in new systems are quite clear.

 From 2020 we will not be able to use HFCs with a GWP greater than 2500 to service systems over 40 tonnes CO2 equivalent.   This equates, for example, to a system charged with 10.2 kg R404A.   We will be able to use recycled R404A until 2030 – if we can get it.

 There will soon be bans on using HFCs in many new systems, dependent on GWP, as show in the table below.

​The concept of CO2 equivalent

The revised F Gas regulation uses CO2 equivalent to determine bans and leak test regimes.   The CO2 equivalent of a system is simply the GWP of the refrigerant multiplied by the weight (mass) of refrigerant in the system.   Consequently the revised regulation has a greater impact on high GWP refrigerants.

Year	Max GWP	System type
2015	150	Domestic fridges and freezers
2020	2500	Commercial fridges and freezers
2022	150	Commercial fridges and freezers
2020	Value	Most HFC stationary equipment
2022		Central plant for commercial use (retail, food services) > 40 kW Exception -  cascade high stage, GWP > 1500
2020		Moveable room AC
2025		​Single split < 3kg

This is also quite clear, and in fact several of the systems in the table already predominantly use other refrigerants, such as domestic and commercial fridges and freezers where hydrocarbons are widely used.

The quota system

However, revised F Gas Regulation has introduced a quota system on the supply of HFCs, and with it a huge degree of uncertainty.   From this year there is a phase down in the amount of HFC that can be supplied, specified in CO2 equivalent and compared to the average supplied in 2009 to 2012.

Year	Phase down %	Average GWP
2015	100%	2300
2016-17	93%	2139
2018-20	63%	1449
2021-23	45%	1035
2024-26	31%	713
2027-30	24%	552
2030	21%	483

The “average GWP” column is just that – it’s what the average GWP of HFCs sold in Europe would have to be if the quantity (weight) of HFC sold is to remain the same.    So you can see that within a few years it is likely the suppliers will not be selling high GWP HFCs such as R404A (GWP = 3922) if they are to maintain sales volume.   And a few years later lower GWP refrigerants such as R134a (GWP = 1430) are also less likely to be available.

The impact of the phase down may be greater than shown if, as expected, the requirement for refrigeration and air conditioning increases within Europe.  


So the effect of the quota system will be to phase out high and medium GWP refrigerants, but it will be market driven and not simple to predict in terms of timescale and availability.   In the UK we will be affected by HFC demand in the rest of Europe, making the situation even less predictable.

Phase out and alternatives

The impact of the quota system and the bans / restrictions means we are now urgently planning to replace R404A in both new and existing systems.   Unlike previous phase outs we don’t know the exact timescale but we do have an increasing range of replacements available.

Some of the replacements, such as the R407 series (GWP approximately 2000), are actually better refrigerants, but their life is probably limited to a few years by the quota system.   The longer term replacements are probably HFO blends, of which there is a proliferation as the chemical companies brew their own blends.

Other changes

The other revisions to the regulation seem minor in comparison with the effect of the quota, bans and restrictions, but should help reduce emissions.

• The supply of HFCs is now restricted to companies which are registered.   This means they have to employ certificated engineers and have appropriate equipment; 
• Non hermetic systems which are pre charged with HFC (e.g. split AC) can only be installed by a registered company;
• The leak test regime is now based on the CO2 equivalent of the HFC charge in a system.   The effect of this is more frequent leak testing of high GWP refrigerants (such as R404A), and less frequent testing for low GWP systems.  

In conclusion

The aim of the revised F Gas regulation is to reduce emissions of HFCs by 80% by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.   It will certainly accelerate our move to alternative refrigerants (R744, HCs, HFOs).   But uncertainty in the availability of high GWP HFCs within a very short timescale is going to challenge the RAC industry.

For more information:

Cool Concerns Ltd, www.coolconcerns.co.uk, +44 (0)1684 290333.