You are in: Home > Products - What's new > Fluorinated greenhouse gases and CFCs > Emissions
Last changed: 04/01/13
The group of fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases) includes partially fluorinated hydrocarbons (HFC), chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and sulphur hexafluoride. These substances are used in a wide variety of applications, ranging from use as refrigerant to the production of certain foams, and in aerosols. Some fluorinated greenhouse gases have very high Global Warming Potential and contribute to global warming.
source: Flyer „Global projection of F-gas emissions shows high increase until 2050”
Global demand for these substances is on the rise, firstly because they replace ozone-depleting substances and secondly because the demand for refrigeration is increasing constantly. Global emissions of F-gases will rise to about 4 Gt CO2 eq by 2050 if no reduction measures are taken. The share of F-gases‘ contribution to the greenhouse effect will climb from 1.3% (2004) to 7.9% relative to global direct CO2 emissions. These are the results of a 2010 study by the Federal Environment Agency. The global emissions study reiterates the necessity of taking further international measures to reduce F-gas emissions, although the study itself is one that assumes a moderate increase in emissions.
A slightly different trend is expected in Germany. The progress in technology and legislation made up to now and their rigorous implementation could lead to a reduction of emissions in the medium term, although the trend might be reversed by a steady rise in number of installations. A “further measures“ scenario was therefore considered, based on a climate-neutral, near-renunciation of the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases. The utilisation of all possibilities can result in a long-term reduction of fluorinated greenhouse gas emissions.
As Party to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Germany has committed to prepare and publish emission inventories in German and to update them on a yearly basis. In connection with the international climate protection agreements, Germany is also required to send emissions data to the European Commission once a year.
Reports on emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases are now more than just a non-binding description of the current situation and an instrument to monitor the effectiveness of measures. These reports will be the basis for future international emissions trading. Hence, a high level of detail, quantitative statements about the uncertainties inherent in the emissions data, and complete documentation are required. The emissions data are therefore determined, as far as possible, in keeping with the IPCC Good Practice Guidance 2000.
On 24 October 2012 the contractor of the research project entitled Modelle zur Ermittlung der Inventardaten für die Emissionsberichterstattung fluorierter Treibhausgase (HFKW, FKW und SF6) in ausgewählten Quellgruppen [Models for inventory compilation of fluorinated greenhouse gases (HFC, PFC and SF6 )in selected source categories] (FKZ 363 01 351) presented the project’s key conclusions and changes in the area of refrigeration and air conditioning. The presenters and some 30 participants discussed the new models and the assumptions made to calculate emissions in the applications ‘commercial refrigeration’, ‘industrial refrigeration’ and ‘car air conditioning’. It was agreed that the new models are state-of-the-art in technological terms and provide an accurate illustration of current data availability. It was also determined that improving the accuracy of reported emissions can only be achieved if reporting occurs at individual facility level.
Another topic of discussion was how the use of the new models will affect the amounts of reported F-gas emissions from refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Changes in the reported application emissions from car air conditioning systems are minimal, whereas they fall within the uncertainty interval of the recorded data for commercial and industrial refrigeration systems. The sum of disposal emissions has been adjusted downwards in all sectors and shifted for most applications to subsequent years. The main reason for this in stationary refrigeration and air conditioning systems is that the average product life time of most systems had to be considerably increased. Therefore, the disposal emissions will first occur in later years.
Unless stated otherwise, all figures and images in presentations are proprietary and/or the presenter has received express copyright permission, or data is freely available.
The reports on the determination of emissions of certain fluorinated compounds are in part available in English and compiled in the table below: