ACR Journal

August 2022 | September 2022 REFRIGERANTS 20 A-Gas managing director John Ormerod explains why being inflexible about the use of high GWP HFC refrigerants in the short term may do more harm than good. Diversified environmental policy is needed Volume 8 No.5 Policymakers are busy shaping the next round of F-Gas restrictions. With the UK likely to follow the lead of the European Union, what happens in Brussels could have a far- reaching effect on our industry in the UK. The European Commission has tabled proposals for deep cuts in the use of higher GWP refrigerants – and very soon. We could see a complete ban on refrigerants with a GWP higher than 150 in new self-contained refrigeration equipment and heat pumps as soon as 2025. Looking further ahead, a proposed ban for new split air conditioning systems and heat pumps below 12kW capacity using gases with a GWP of 150 or more, could be on the cards in 2027. I feel I need to make the point that to reduce emissions of high GWP refrigerants and to move to better alternatives is not the problem and is certainly not being disputed. There are a lot of well- intentioned environmental objectives being discussed and decided but the mechanics of how to achieve these objectives is being determined with limited consultation with the extensive knowledge available within the industry. There is also very little time for industry to adapt, which simply doesn’t allow effective planning. It is in all our interests to make certain that environmental objectives are achieved; we believe this will be more effectively accomplished by working with the support of the industry. We want to help policy makers avoid some of the adverse unintended consequences which will result from their rigid proposals and unrealistic timescales. Refrigerants need to be part of a diversified environmental policy John Ormerod