THE European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) has said that to meet the EU target of a low-carbon economy by 2050 further steps are needed to achieve more reductions of up to 60%.
EPEE has said that full implementation of the f-gas regulation is key to creating a low carbon economy and has made additional emissions reduction suggestions, which includes extending the regulations to all transport refrigeration and air-conditioning (currently only car ac is included) and ensuring that distributors and wholesalers are only allowed to sell refrigerant to certified companies.

Any company or person (not only operators) who assign work to a third party on a refrigerant circuit should also need to make sure that this third party is properly certified, says EPEE.

EPEE also suggests that the European Commission should continue with its infringement procedures for Member States which are not yet compliant with the f-gas rules.

Improvements in the sharing of best practices in improving tightness of refrigerant circuits is also recommended as are incentives for installers and operators to improve end of life recovery, reclamation and recycling.

EPEE also calls for a central electronic register of certified companies and staff.

The group also backs a cap and phase down scheme, taking into account the capacity of industry to invest in new lower GWP technologies and products, industrial planning timescales, and ensure that the international competitive position of European companies will not be disrupted.

EPEE cite the recent data published by the French research institutes ERIE and ARMINES which suggests a maximum achievable demand reduction of up to 60% resulting in refrigerant emission reductions up to 60% from 147 million tonnes CO2eq to 57 tonnes. EPEE say this scenario can be used as a basis for a discussion to establish a phase-down schedule.

The scenario takes into account the 'best non-available technologies' for which currently no feasibility studies have been carried out by product (OEM) manufacturers. Which means that the energy efficiency will need to be assessed along with the safety implications as several member states impose limitations for flammable refrigerants, as some low GWP HFCs and R-32 are mildly flammable and hydrocarbons are even extremely flammable. Finally the scenario also looks at the growing use of heat pumps which is expected to considerably reduce global greenhouse gas emissions but will entail an increase in HFC consumption.