Kurzfassung

February 2003

Costs and the impact on emissions of potential regulatory framework for reducing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride

Prepared on behalf of the European Commission (DG ENV)
(B4-3040/2002/336380/MAR/E1)

Authors: Jochen Harnisch (Ecofys) & Winfried Schwarz (Öko-Recherche)

The final report of the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP, 2001a) recommended a number of dedicated actions to limit emission of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) in Europe:

Recommendation 1:
Make a clear political statement on the importance of reducing fluorinated gas emissions

Recommendation 2:
Establish a regulatory framework in a “Community Directive on Fluorinated Gases”

The key objectives of such a Directive would be:

  • Improved monitoring and verification of emissions of fluorinated gases.
  • Improved containment of fluorinated gases.
  • Marketing and use restrictions in certain applications, such as SF6 in tyres and windows.

Recommendation 3:
Use existing or planned EU legislation to the extent possible for the reduction of fluorinated gases

Recommendation 4:
Examine the appropriateness of selected voluntary agreements primarily in the semi-conductor, switchgear and foam sector

Recommendation 5:
Carry out integrated, independent assessments of relevant technologies in order to facilitate a comparison between the use of fluorinated gases and alternatives

Recommendation 6:
Promote the development and appropriate use of alternative fluids and not in kind (NIK) technologies

This analysis explicitly addresses items one (“Improved monitoring and verification of emissions of fluorinated gases”) and three (“Marketing and use restrictions in certain applications”) of the ECCP’s recommendation 2 on the a regulatory framework on fluorinated gases. Item two of (“Improved containment of fluorinated gases”) has been addressed by a separate study.

Our report is structured in a way to permit an optimal accessibility of information required in the legislative process. It is strongly recommended that readers also consult the final report of the ECCP on fluorinated gases (ECCP, 2001b) which gives an overview of all relevant sectors affected and the perspectives beyond the measures addressed here.

The report represents the views of its authors and not necessarily those of the Commission.


CONTENT




1 INTRODUCTION 3
2 METHODS 4
    2.1 SCOPE OF THE MONITORING SYSTEM
4
    2.2 SELECTION OF APPLICATIONS FOR PROHIBITIONS
 5
    2.3 INFORMATION COLLECTION
 7
    2.4 EMISSION ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS
 7
    2.5 SELECTION OF EMISSION REDUCTION OPTIONS
 8
    2.6 COST ESTIMATES
 8
3 MONITORING 9
    3.1 SCOPE AND BENEFITS
9
    3.2 COSTS OF THE SYSTEM
10
    3.3 CONFIDENTIALITY ISSUES
11
    3.4 ORGANISATIONS CONSULTED
11
4 MARKETING AND USE RESTRICTIONS 12
    4.1 APPLICATION: SF6 IN CAR TYRES
 12
    4.2 SF6 IN SOUND INSULATING GLAZING
 15
    4.3 SF6 IN SPORT SHOES
 22
    4.4 SF6 IN MAGNESIUM DIE CASTING
 24
    4.5 HFCS IN SELF-CHILLING BEVERAGE CONTAINERS
 32
    4.6 HFCS IN ONE COMPONENT FOAMS
 34
    4.7 HFCS IN NOVELTY AEROSOLS
 40
    4.8 HFCS AS SURFACE CLEANING SOLVENTS
 45
    4.9 PFC AS FIRE FIGHTING AGENTS
 49
5 SUMMARY OF QUANTITATIVE RESULTS 52
6 REFERENCES 55
7 GLOSSARY 57

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