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MIPIGGS Newsletter GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS FOR THE CLIMATE Two important items for this update. First, the good news - a comprehensive new German EPA report (summarised below and in more detail, along with the full document in English, at the website www.mipiggs.org) shows sector by sector how f-gases can be fully substituted or avoided. By far the most comprehensive study of its kind, this study should be read by all policy makers responsible for climate, and shows how the EU and others have no good excuse not to require the use of alternative technologies (except for pepper sprays and some insecticides ...). Second, the bad news .... A report by the UK Observer newspaper has revealed that the UK Met Office - the scientific centre for Tony Blair's much-vaunted climate policy and the hosts of the Hadley Centre models of global climate change - is purchasing potent industrial greenhouse gases (HFCs) for its own air conditioning. What can they be thinking of ? Criticised repeatedly for talking political hot air on the climate while their actions do not match their words, the UK Government's fumbling procurement policy is yet again to create more climate change but this time heating the atmosphere un-necessarily, while trying to keep the climate modellers and their supercomputers cool .... A week ago the UK opposition Conservatives called for a ban on HFCs - maybe now Tony Blair will intervene to join up HFC policy in his own back yard ? After all, how can intellectuals like Sir David King, UK Chief Scientist, visit America to lecture the Bush Administration on the evils of climate change - 'a bigger threat than terrorism' - and expect to be taken seriously if he condones air conditioning using greenhouse gases a thousand times more powerful than CO2, and doesn't utilise more efficient and f-gas free alternatives ? See http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1312939,00.html For the Met Office's wonderful excuses ... "The NEC supercomputers process vast quantities of data ... running the long-range climate change models; these generate a tremendous amount of heat" so .... "The need to keep the computer halls at the correct temperature is extremely important and for this purpose the HFC R-134a is used in the refrigeration" see http://www.gnn.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=130646&NewsAreaID=2 German EPA F-Gas Report - Summary and Extracts A comprehensive report by the German Environmental Protection Agency, produced in February 2004, is now available in English at www.mipiggs.org and from the German EPA. Some extracts are given below. (The full report scrutinises each gas and sector in detail). The report, which is over 240 pages long, identifies existing alternative technologies or processes for every use of f-gases in over 20 sectors. It shows that f-gases (HFCs etc) are not necessary for the following uses: refrigerants in domestic refrigerators and freezers, commercial or industrial refrigeration, stationary air conditioning of buildings or transport, stationary or mobile air-conditioning units (domestic, commercial, industrial); in domestic heat pumps; as blowingagents to make rigid foams for thermal insulation, flexible polyurethane foams, integral skin polyurethane foams or one component foam; as propellant in technical sprays, medical aerosols, aerosols in households and cosmetic aerosols, in aerosols intended for decorative purposes, party supplies and claxons, fire extinguishing, etching semi conductors circuit board production, extinguishing and electrical insulating gas (switch-gear) cover gas for magnesium processing, degasser for secondary aluminium casting and, filling gas for car tyres. The exceptions are HFCs in pepper sprays and non-domestic insecticides. It also identifies many new alternatives currently in testing, and technical measures to reduce emissions. The authors state that Extracts - Foreword The following example illustrates the urgent need for action: Between 1995 and 2001, annual consumption of HFC-134a for first-filling automobile air conditioning systems intended for the German market grew from 1,400 to 3,900 tonnes, due to the increase in the number of automobiles equipped with air conditioning systems. In 2002, the cumulative HFC stock in automobile air conditioning systems in Germany already reached a level of 13,700 t. This amount corresponds to about 18 million t of CO2 equivalents. For comparison: A small fuel-efficient car emits 1.5 to 1.8 t of CO2 at an annual mileage of 15,000 km. Thanks to the industry's innovative efforts, automobile air conditioning systems which use CO2 as refrigerant are now ready to go into production. Not only do these systems use the virtually climate-neutral CO2 as refrigerant, but they are also more economical to operate lower petrol consumption) than systems using fluorinated greenhouse gases. Another example from the automobile industry shows that the entire product lifecycle needs to be considered in climate protection: Automotive components made of magnesium have a lower weight and thus help reduce fuel consumption. However, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), which is used in magnesium production and processing as a shielding gas, has a very high global warming potential which overcompensates magnesium's weight advantage in motor-vehicle manufacture. Here too, industry has developed solutions which should be implemented in industrial practice in the short term. The report describes a multitude of further substitution and emission abatement possibilities. Nevertheless, forecasts predict a continued sharp rise in the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases. In 2020, fluorinated greenhouse gases are anticipated to have a global annual market volume of up to 500,000 t, Europe accounting for up to 100,000 t of this total. Annual emissions of different fluorinated gases to the environment up to the year 2020 may total about 330,000 t worldwide and about 60,000 t in Europe. HFCs account for about 95% of this total. Conclusions [part A general] From an environmental point of view, of all of the fluorinated compounds' properties, the contribution to global climate change is by far the most significant one. Although today's additional greenhouse effect caused by fluorinated gases is low, it will enormously increase owing to the replacement of CFCs. This will pose a significant problem in future. On the other hand, it should be taken into account that emissions of fluorinated gases can often be reduced by 100% if suitable measures are taken - e.g. through substitution. Where traditional greenhouse gases are concerned, this is almost never the case. The emission reduction amounts that can be reached with CO2, for example, by applying individual measures lie in the same order of magnitude as those that can be achieved with fluorinated gases. Extract S2 (emission trends) HFCs - According to "Emissions Projections With Approved Measures"/"Mit-Maßnahmen-Szenario3" prepared on behalf of the Federal Environmental Agency, absolute, use-related HFC emissions will generally increase between 1995 and 2010 by approximately +270 %. In comparison, without the reduction measures taken since 1998, current estimates presume that the use-related emissions in 2010 would be about 5,000 t higher (i.e. by almost 5 million t of CO2 equivalent) [Schwarz 2003]. On the other hand, additional reduction measures would help to reduce emissions even further: In comparison to the "Emissions Projections With Approved Measures"/"Mit-Maßnahmen-Szenario" in 2010 by about 2.5 million t of CO2 equivalent, in 2020 by about 8 million t of CO2 equivalent (see "Emissions Projections With Additional Measures"/"Mit-weiteren-Maßnahmen-Szenario" [Schwarz 2003]). Extract conclusions s3 3 1 Approximately 10 years ago, the German manufacturers placed CFC- and HFC-free domestic refrigerators and freezers on the market. Today, such systems are produced in the various countries in Europe, but also outside Europe. They have proved their safety and their economic and ecological benefits. Other European and non-European manufacturers (e.g. manufacturers in the USA) still use HFC-134a in the insulation and as refrigerant. Some of these systems are also available in Germany. The use of HFCs is neither as refrigerant nor as blowing agent necessary. Consumers should prefer HFC-free products with a high energy efficiency. Many older appliances still contain CFCs, in some cases also HFCs. During their recovery or disposal, emissions should be kept to a minimum. Extract Section Mobile Air Conditioning German cars equipped with air conditioning rose from 9% in 1992 to 84% in 2004 (all HFC 134a). Between 1995 and 2002, the increasing HFC stock went hand in hand with an increase in HFC emissions from 120 t to 1,400 t. These amounts are equivalent to a contribution to the greenhouse effect of 0.15 million t or 1.8 million t of CO2 equivalent respectively (see Table 3.1). If the use of R 134a were to continue as it is, the annual emissions in 2020 would amount to 3,500 t [Schwarz 2003a]. Today, about one quarter of all HFC emissions are caused by air-conditioning units in passenger cars. There are: regular/normal emissions (gradual loss, i.e. the slow leakage of refrigerant through seals), irregular emissions (sudden loss, due to an accident, a rockfall etc.) and end-of-life emissions (emissions during disposal) [Schwarz 2001]. The annual refrigerant emissions into the atmosphere amount on average to approximately 8.2 % [Schwarz 2001; UBA 2002]. Disposal-related HFC emissions first occurred in 2002 when the first units that had been converted in 1995 from R 12 to HFCs were scrapped. These emissions are not included in the average value mentioned above. >From 2005 on, the first generation of units initially charged at production with R 134 will be scrapped. Today, a large portion of passenger cars are not scrapped in Germany but exported to other countries before they are scrapped (e.g. to Eastern Europe and Africa) [Buchert, Hagelüken 2003]. Only few of these vehicles are exported to countries where the necessary legislation is in place to ensure a safe disposal of the refrigerant. No reliable information is available on the whereabouts of these vehicles, their maintenance, the emissions and the disposal of the refrigerant. It is therefore very likely that a large portion of the refrigerant (R 134a) contained in the air-conditioning systems of these vehicles is emitted. As mentioned above, about 13,700 t of HFC-134a are already contained in existing units in passenger cars licensed in Germany. This amount is equivalent to approximately 18 million t of CO2 equivalent. ... ... [on alternative car aircon systems] ... The group of international car manufacturers, which has taken the lead in the development of the CO2-based technology, presumes that by the year 2006 this optimisation process will have been completed [Mager 2003; COM 2003]. In 2002, Toyota, in cooperation with Denso, placed the first CO2-based units for passenger cars on the market in Japan and California [COM 2003]. [conclusion] Taking all aspects into account, it can be concluded that CO2 is the best refrigerant. As soon as the planned optimisation is completed, it will be possible to place CO2-based systems on the market, enabling on a medium and long-term basis all new vehicles with air-conditioners to be equipped with CO2-based units. Extracts - section 15 'An Overview of Possible Substitution Measures and Additional Ways To Reduce Emissions in Various Applications' The report states: Between 1995 and 2002, HFC emissions in Germany rose by 270 % and the trend is likely to continue. On the other hand, the increase in PFC and SF6 emissions could be stopped. Since the Mid-1990ies, PFC emissions dropped by 60 %, SF6 emissions by half. It is therefore particularly important to substitute HFCs and reduce their emissions. On the other hand, for the first time in 2002 more PFCs and SF6 were emitted again than in the previous year. In almost all areas of application, it is possible to replace fluorinated greenhouse gases (HFCs, PFCs and SF6) by halogen-free alternatives. In addition, there are many more ways to reduce emissions. The report gives (section 15, table 15) a tabulated 'Overview of Possible Susbtitution Measures and Additional Ways To Reduce Emissions in the Various Appliactions ...' This includes*: Sector: REFRIGERANTS Sub-sector: Commercial refrigeration systems Sub-sector: Industrial refrigeration systems Sub-sector: Stationary air conditioning of buildings Sub-sector: Transport refrigeration systems Sub-sector: Refrigeration and air-conditioning units/ room air conditioners (RACs) Sub-sector: Refrigeration and air-conditioning units/ room air conditioners (RACs) Sub-sector: Domestic heat pumps Sub-sector: Air-conditioning in vehicles Sector: BLOWING AGENT IN FOAM PRODUCTION Sub-sector: Flexible polyurethane foams Sub-sector: Integral skin polyurethane foams Sub-sector: One component foam Sector: PROPELLANT Sub-sector: Medical aerosols Sub-sector: Aerosols in households and cosmetic aerosols Sub-sector: Aerosols intended for decorative purposes, party supplies Sub-sector: Acoustic alarms (signal horns) Sub-sector: Pepper sprays Sub-sector: Insecticides, herbicides etc, for other than domestic uses Sector: FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENT Sector: SOLVENT Sector: ETCHING Sub-sector: Production of circuit boards Sector: EXTINGUISHING AND INSULATING GAS Sub-sector: Switch-gear >1-36kV Sector: COVER GAS Sector: DEGASSER Sector: FILLING GAS * The report also gives additional emission reduction measures such as low emission disposal, reduced refrigerant charges and hermetic sealing. Technical measures are identified for most uses including fire extinguishing and solvents. LTR - low temperature refrigeration. For any enquires contact: secretary@mipiggs.org |
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