EIA and shecco publish ‘net zero cooling product list’

Lobby groups move to accelerate natural refrigeration adoption, guiding end users to natural technology solutions

A new publication from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) pressure group and natural refrigerant ‘market accelerator’ shecco aims to point end-users to technologies using natural refrigerants. The groups have aligned the the technology list and associated report to the COP 26 Pathway to Net Zero Cooling on the basis that naturals offer a viable and immediate transition to lower-GWP and therefore lower carbon.

Pointedly, 'the Pathway to Net Zero Cooling Product List' does not include any HFO ultra-low GWP products. The groups explain their rationale in the report, saying: “Net-zero cooling products are defined here as accessible, energy efficient and using ultra-low GWP (GWP <5) natural refrigerants. Synthetic ultra-low GWP refrigerants such as unsaturated HFCs, more commonly known as HFOs, are not included. This is due to concerns over environmental impacts relating to by-product emissions from certain HFOs and accessibility and illegal trade issues arising from the higher costs of HFOs.”

The main argument behind the compilation of list is that the existing path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cooling as set out under the UK and EU F-Gas Regulation will be insufficient at their current pace. The EIA backs more radical targets than the existing quotas and bans under F-Gas to encourage the industry to provide lower GWP HFC products.

The majority of recent responses from cooling industry bodies to the current review of the F-Gas regulations called for the existing targets and timelines to be maintained with a focus on gradually phasing out higher GWP products via steadily decreasing refrigerant quotas based on carbon dioxide equivalent.

These same organisations, such as EPEE, AREA and EFTC are calling instead for improved resources around enforcing F-Gas regulations and ensuring that any refrigerant coming to market in Europe and the UK is compliant with quotas.

‘Greater ambition’

The new EIA technology list backs a more ambitious schedule of product bans to be introduced globally.  The EIA says this will accelerate the rate and adoption of more innovative and efficient solutions and refrigerants such as the higher flammability gas propane to be used in more applications.

The document states, “The product list provides evidence that natural refrigerant solutions are viable alternatives available to the cooling sector as it transitions along the pathway to net-zero emissions. While the focus of this report is on vapour compression cooling appliances, we recognise that adoption of not-in-kind cooling solutions, such as passive cooling and holistic city and building planning, will play a key role toward net zero cooling.”

‘Net zero cooling’ is defined in the report as solutions that are energy efficient, accessible and make use of gas with an ultra-low GWP of 5 or under. The technologies listed apply to a range of cooling functions spanning domestic, industrial, commercial and domestic cooling looking at refrigeration and air conditioning.

The EIA expresses concern in the report that a range of market barriers are hampering adoption of net zero cooling solutions, despite the commercially available solutions included in the technology list.

These barriers vary both regionally and across different cooling sectors, it contends, with government policy and insufficient energy performance standards being identified as major issues limiting take-up of these net zero cooling technologies.

The EIA also cites higher product costs, outdated building and product regulations and limited training for industry around installing and servicing equipment as compounding difficulties in moving to natural ultra-low GWP solutions.

The report adds, “The products featured in this report offer a first step on the pathway to net zero cooling. We have strived to provide examples of net zero cooling products from around the world; however, we recognise that it has a strong European focus. We hope many more guides will follow to show the full geographic breadth of available products.”

Manufacturers are being urged to support the rollout of net zero compatible equipment, while also avoiding “technology-dumping” of less efficient HFC cooling technologies in developing countries as part of several recommendations in the technology list.

The EIA also calls for the industry to ensure there is great capacity development within the servicing sector to support the safer uptake of natural refrigerants worldwide.

Flammability issues

Among the report’s other findings are warnings that “restrictive product safety standards and perceived safety fears relating to the use of flammable refrigerants” have served to undermine efforts to increase use of ultra-low GWP gas in areas such as domestic air conditioning.

However, major industry bodies such as FETA continue to warn of the importance of the complex and often lengthy safety assurance process when setting out and adopting revised standards for the charge size and use of refrigerants that may introduce a higher level of flammability and toxicity.

 

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