Eurovent

The Danish Technological Institute (DTI) is organising a high-ranking, two-day conference on refrigeration in the supermarket sector. It will take place at Taastrup (Copenhagen) from 8-9 November 2017. This conference focusses on the energy challenges and on how all parties of the cooling chain may benefit from the ongoing and upcoming regulations and by having an up-to-date climate policy. The ongoing trends towards natural refrigerants, especially CO2, and the supermarkets’ shift from R404A to CO2 will be analysed and discussed by major European refrigeration experts. In the course of the event, two interesting sessions on the challenges for producers, suppliers, installers, and end-users will also take place. The Danish Energy Agency is contributing to the conference, which is supported by Eurovent Association.

The EU F-Gas Regulation (No 517/2014) bans the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases with GWPs greater than 150 in systems with a rated capacity of 40kW or more from 2022. The Regulation also included a promise to review this prohibition by considering the availability of cost-effective, technically feasible, energy-efficient and reliable alternatives. This has been assessed by the European Commission in its report of last 4 August 2017. In this article, the Eurovent Team has analysed the EC report (for members only).

The white paper details a total of five uncertainties that can occur during the measurement process. In addition to errors in measuring instruments, it looks at both uncertainties in the reproducibility of tests in different laboratories and in the manufacture of compressors. Moreover, the document also highlights the uncertainties in performance prognosis as well as the difference between nominal and test conditions.

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 …