Eurovent

On 17 July 2017, the European Council has adopted a decision to, on behalf of the European Union, conclude the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol – ensuring the protection of climate from powerful greenhouse gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). With this decision, the European Union is ready for formal ratification, and has signalled its continued determination to lead global efforts to tackle climate change. What is the implementation timeline and how do future steps look like?

Since 2008, EIA’s Chilling Facts has been documenting the growing uptake of natural refrigerants among some of the world’s leading retailers, reflecting a market shift towards a more climate-friendly refrigeration in the supermarket sector. Twenty-two (large, but also small) retailers have participated in this 2017 report by submitting data covering the 2015 calendar year from supermarkets across 37 countries. This report assesses the impact of the F-Gas Regulation, the trends in HFC and natural refrigerants usage, and the energy efficiency of HFC-free systems. Within this article, the Eurovent Team has summarised key takeaways for members.

The ongoing global effort to phase down the use of high-GWP potential refrigerants requires an effective, and evidence-based research on the on the A2L refrigerants which have been identified as potential replacement for refrigerants currently used in HVAC and refrigeration systems. In June 2017, AHRI has published its report ‘Benchmarking Risk by Whole Room Scale Leaks and Ignitions Testing of A2L Refrigerants’. Within this 365-page report, AHRI has assessed several A2L refrigerants. The report would be instrumental in updating the relevant national codes and safety standards so that appropriate, climate-friendly alternatives can be safely used in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment.

The European Commission has launched a review study of the regulation on Ecodesign and Labelling requirements for air conditioners and comfort fans. The study covers the review of the Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2012 and the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 626/2011. The draft interim report (task 1-2) has been published on 13 June 2017, it will serve as the background document for the upcoming stakeholder meeting on 5 July 2017. The Eurovent Team has summarised the review study’s objectives and will attend this stakeholder meeting.

The European Heat Pump Association (EHPA) recognised that there is, notwithstanding declarations by politicians, no real model to develop a decarbonised energy system for the European Union by 2050. To address this issue, EHPA started an initiative called ‘DecarbHeat’, which would develop policy guidance, asking policy makers to define framework conditions that put a price on carbon. The Eurovent Association did not sign this initiative. An explanation…

The IOR will be hosting the inaugural IIR International Conference on the Application of HFO Refrigerants from 2 to 5 September 2018 in Birmingham. The three-day conference will provide a focus for global experience on the use of low flammable A2L classification refrigerants, which encompass the new generation of HFO refrigerants heralded as replacements for high-GWP HFC refrigerants. The event will cover essential information for designers, manufacturers, end users and installers about characteristics of low GWP refrigerants, system and component design, lubricants, flammability, legislation, codes of practice and standards.

On Wednesday, 17 May 2016, Eurovent and Uniclima jointly organised their Refrigeration2030 event in Paris. The event provided an interactive forum for close to 70 high-ranking sector representatives to discuss trends and developments in Industrial and Commercial Refrigeration, Process Cooling and Food Cold Chain. Vivid discussions took place on issues such as refrigerants of the future, the latest evaporative cooling technologies, and new, innovative solutions for the 2030 supermarket. A reflection …

Brussels, Paris, 2 May 2017. During the seminar Refrigeration2030 (Wednesday, 17 May 2017, Paris), high-ranking speakers and guests from around Europe are going to elaborate on how technologies and legislation in Refrigeration, Process Cooling, Food Cold Chain could evolve. Next to Dr Denis Clodic (President & Director, EREIE), the seminar is going to see presentations and statements by key association representatives, as well as industry leaders such as Carrier, Daikin, ebm-papst, FRICO, EPTA, JACIR, and Tecumseh.

Eurovent has just published its Position Paper related to the European Commission Guideline Document on the European Commission Regulation 2016/228. Eurovent and its Members hold that the EU Ecodesign regulations and measures are a powerful tool to achieve the European Union energy saving targets and to ensure the level-playing-field. Eurovent does not regard these measures as a burden, but as a motivation to further innovate while contributing to progressive thinking throughout all sectors of our industry.

This year the eurammon symposium will focus on small applications for refrigeration and HVAC that are operated with natural refrigerants will be the focus of the event.