Refrigerant producers disappointed at F-gas vote
30th 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.
In a statement, the European FluoroCarbons Technical Committee (EFCTC), which represents the major HFC/HFO refrigerant producers, said its members were “disappointed” by the amendments adopted by the European Parliament, in particular the inclusion of very low GWP HFOs within the Annex IV product ban proposals.
“Low GWP fluorinated refrigerants are part of the long-term solution for the transition away from higher GWP HFCs, whilst maintaining energy efficiency and safety,” the EFCTC said, and warned: “The transition to non-fluorinated industrially produced alternatives may result in risks primarily in the area of safety in many circumstances, such as high-density buildings.”
The EFCTC predicts “significant consequences” for the operation of refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment and the use of some high-efficiency insulation materials vital to achieving the EU’s building decarbonisation goals if the low GWP HFCs are excluded in the final compromise text.
“This may also jeopardise the widescale rollout of heat pumps in the EU and consequently undermine the REPowerEU programme,” it added.
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