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Member states loosen F-gas revision proposals

EUROPE: The EU Council of Ministers has taken a more relaxed approach to the F-gas regulations, easing the quota step down and pushing back some of the proposed product bans.

On Wednesday, COREPER, composed of the permanent representatives from each member state, agreed to postpone a number of bans compared to the Commission’s proposal, mainly for heat pumps. More specifically, it proposes to impose an earlier ban on air-to-water systems, for which alternatives are more widely available, and a later ban for air-to-air systems, where it Is more difficult to use alternatives. 

With proposals now in from the European Commission, the European Parliament and Council of Ministers, the so-called trilogue negotiations can begin to determine the final F-gas regulation amendment.

Specifically, the Council of Minister’s position is for: 

A ban on any stationary self-contained refrigeration equipment that contains F-gases with a GWP of 150 or more (except when required to meet safety requirements) from 1 January 2025;

A ban on plug-in room and other self-contained air-conditioning and heat pumps (including all heat pumps in monobloc construction) with a maximum rated capacity of 50kW that contain F-gases with GWP of 150 or more, except when required to meet safety requirements, from 1 January 2027. 
(When safety requirements would not allow using fluorinated greenhouse gases with GWP of 150 or less, the GWP limit would be 750);

A ban on all plug-in AC and heat pump equipment operating on F-gas with a GWP greater than 150, except when required to meet safety requirements, from 1 January 2030.
(When safety requirements would not allow using fluorinated greenhouse gases with GWP of 150 or less, the GWP limit would be 750);

A ban on single-splits using less than 3kg of HFCs with a GWP of 750 or more from 1 January 2025;

A ban on air-to-water split systems with a rated capacity of up to and including 12 kW, operating on HFCs with a GWP of 150 or more (except when required to meet safety requirements) from 1 January 2027;

A ban on air-to-air split systems with a capacity of up to and including 12kW and operating on HFCs with GWP of 150 or more (except when required to meet safety requirements) from 1 January 2029;

A ban on split systems with capacities of more than 12kW, operating on HFCs with GWP over 750 (except when required to meet safety requirements) from 1 January 2029;

A ban on split systems over 12kW, operating on HFCs with a GWP over 150 (except when required to meet safety requirements) from 1 January 2033.

Significantly, it makes a distinction in the bans between HFCs (as listed in Annex 1) and “fluorinated greenhouse gases”, referring to HFCs and HFOs.

The “trialogue” groups now line up with differences in the phase down scenarios

Related stories:

Refrigerant producers disappointed at F-gas vote – 30 March 2023
BELGIUM: The fluorinated refrigerant producers have expressed disappointment at today’s F-gas revision vote and warned that alternatives may result in safety risks. Read more…

Industry faces tough new HFC phase down – 30 March 2023
EUROPE: The HVACR industry faces a tough new HFC phase down timetable and earlier product bans in new F-gas regulation revision proposals voted through by MEPs today. Read more…

F-gas amendments flood in as MEPs prepare to vote – 28 March 2023
EUROPE: As the European Parliament prepares to vote on revisions to the F-gas regulations, dozens of new last-minute amendments have been tabled by MEPs. Read more…

Industry offers counter F-gas proposals – 22 March 2023
EUROPE: Leading groups representing the HVAC, refrigeration and foam insulation sectors are calling on the European Parliament to take a practical approach in the upcoming vote on the F-gas revision. Read more…

Scientists back propane in heat pumps – 18 March 2023
SWEDEN: More than 40 scientists from across Europe have signed a position statement backing what they say is the proven superior efficiencies of hydrocarbon refrigerants in heat pumps. Read more…

German groups warn of refrigeration “extinction” – 9 March 2023
GERMANY: Industry groups are pleading with their members and their customers to urgently draw the attention of politicians to the “major problems” posed by the F-gas revision and PFAS proposals. Read more…

F-gas concessions fail to pacify manufacturers – 2 March 2023
EUROPE: The European Parliament’s environment committee (ENVI) has relaxed some of the equipment bans proposed in the EC’s F-gas revision but not enough to dispel industry concerns. Read more…

“Pause for thought,” says EPEE – 1 March 2023
BELGIUM: EPEE has urged the European Parliament to pause for thought before pressing ahead with the F-gas bans voted for by its environment committee. Read more…

Enviro committee backs “ambitious” F-gas revision – 1 March 2023
EUROPE: The European Parliament’s Environment Committee has today agreed to an “ambitious” revision of the F-gas regulation (517/2014) despite industry concerns that the proposals are unrealistic and jeopardise climate targets. Read more…

Euro vote a major setback for heat pumps – 1 March 2023
BELGIUM: The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) has described today’s F-gas vote as a major setback for heat pumps in Europe. Read more…

EIA applauds positive F-gas vote – 1 March 2023
UK: Green group the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) has applauded the “urgently needed” F-gas bans voted on today by the European Parliament’s Environment Committee (ENVI). Read more…

Euro industry calls for “realistic” F-gas vote – 27 February 2023
EUROPE: Twelve leading associations and groups active in the European HVACR market have called on the European Parliament’s environment committee to reject amendments which would ban F-gases. Read more…

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