| Overview: The F-Gas Regulation Review |  |
The European F-Gas Regulation (842/2006), passed in July 2006, has the aim of reducing the impact of fluorinated gases with high global warming potentials as part of the EU's efforts to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Under this regulation, refrigeration equipment is regularly audited to measure and record the leak tightness of equipment.
Based on these audits, the European Commission must publish a report on the experience of the application of the regulation and, if appropriate, submit proposals for amendment of the regulation by mid-2011.
Key goals of this review:
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Determine if the regulation has resulted in the desired reduction of emissions |
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Evaluate if these measures have been cost effective |
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Find out if new technologies are available that could contribute to a further reduction of emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases with a high global warming potential (GWP) |
The European Commission has contracted a consultancy to make this assessment. The Commission has also requested an assessment of proposals for an international agreement for a cap and phase down of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production and consumption. This agreement would fall under the Montreal Protocol.
The contract was awarded to a group of consultants, and the German consultancy Ökorecherche has been assigned to the lead role. The consultants started their work at the beginning of 2010 with a target date of early 2011 for a report to the Commission. A preliminary report was issued in October 2010 based upon surveys of environmental non-profit organizations (NGOs), industry and the national competent authorities. The consultancy has opened up the comments on this report to other stakeholders to help improve its accuracy because the input received to date is not comprehensive.
The Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Goal of the EU is at least a 20% reduction versus the baseline year 1990. The new report focuses not only on the impact of reducing emissions by replacing fluorinated gases with high GWPs, but also on the impact of the energy efficiency of the alternative solutions to ensure that a net positive is created for the environment. Because the F-Gas materials currently in use are very energy efficient, they can effectively reduce CO2 emissions. In some cases these indirect benefits exceed the direct effects caused by the emission of F-gases during their useful life.
Once the consultants' report is finalised, the Commission will in all likelihood organise a broader stakeholder consultation in the first quarter of 2011, and then write its report as mandated under the F-Gas Regulation. The report will be debated in European Parliament with a conclusion to the debate expected toward the end of 2011. Legislative proposals will be subject to the co-decision process, and new legislation may not be passed until mid-2013.
More information on the review is available at:
http://www.fluorocarbons.org/en/debate/the_f_gas_regulation_review.html