Chillventa | The interplay between Ecodesign & Fgas regulations – efficiency at stake
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  • Event: Chillventa CONGRESS
  • Stream: ASERCOM + EPEE Symposium

The interplay between Ecodesign & Fgas regulations – efficiency at stake

As the industry adapts to the new F-gas regulation and potential PFAS restriction, revisions to Ecodesign are introducing higher efficiency requirements across the RACHP sector. The transition to new refrigerants poses challenges in meeting these goals.

Description

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Speaker

south_east

When & Where

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Mon, 07.10.2024, 14:00 – 14:10

place

Room St. Petersburg, NCC Ost, Level 2

Details

Format: Lecture

Language: English

Tickets

Buy your CONGRESS ticket here

Description

The F-gas review has introduced stricter bans on refrigerants for certain products, and adjusted a sharp phase-down of refrigerants, aiming for near-zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, European institutes are debating restrictions on PFAS, which could further limit refrigerants containing PFAS. These combined regulations may result in very few refrigerant options, likely limiting choices to propane, ammonia, water, and carbon dioxide. Simultaneously, the commission is revising Ecodesign requirements for air-to-air heat pumps, air-to-water, water-to-water heat pumps, and professional refrigeration systems. These new regulations will have to be implemented at the same time when Industry prepares for refrigerant transitions. Refrigerant transitions needs to consider several aspects. First, safety regulations may impose charge limits on systems, restricting their efficiency. Furthermore, some refrigerants cannot be used everywhere due to local regulations, such as proximity to windows or balconies, meaning alternatives must remain viable. Another challenge is the thermodynamic properties of refrigerants. For instance, carbon dioxide can't higher efficiencies than current refrigerants like R-32. Affordability is also an issue. Air-to-water monoblock heat pumps, when compared to current R32 models, show a noticeable size increase impacting the cost. A similar trend can be seen with CO2 systems, as demonstrated in the life project natural HVACR for life. We must also consider the existing efficiency regulations. Heat pumps, which are already leading in efficiency for heating and cooling, may see higher costs with stricter efficiency requirements. This could lead consumers to opt for less efficient, cheaper products, which undermines the energy efficiency first principle. Next to that, suboptimalisation due to increased MEPS should be reconsidered by ensuring that Ecodesign requirements provide the correct and relevant data so that these products are optimised for the building and applications they are used in Only by balancing these various regulatory goals can the EU achieve its ambitious targets for decarbonization and energy efficiency.  ... read more

Speaker

els baert

Els Baert

Department Manager Environment Research Center
Daikin Europe Refrigeration incl. AHT, Tewis, Zanotti, Hubbard