Introducing Low GWP Refrigerants: Australia’s experience

Greg Picker

Australia similar to a developing country?

Some shared attributes :§ Hot ambient temperatures§ Little domestic manufacturing§ Little influence on technology

offerings§ End of a long, and often complicated,

supply chain§ Increasing percentage of gas imports

in pre-charged equipment

Impact of equipment sales by typeBreakdown of current market

in CO2-e

MACs SplitsRefrigeration Other AC

Future Breakdown

MACs SplitsRefrigeration Other AC

A reduction of imports (CO2-e) in equipment by 44%

Analyses on Australian import data

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

20092010

20112012

20132014

20152016

20172018

0500

1000150020002500

20102011

20122013

20142015

20162017

20182019

Bulk Gases Average GWPAverage GWP - equipmentLinear (Average GWP - equipment)

Percentage imports of refrigerant in equipment

Average GWP imported refrigerant

Direct emissions (actual) by species from 2016 to 2030 (Mt CO2e)

Figure 1: RCFC: Direct emissions (actual) by species from 2016 to 2030 in Mt CO2e.

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

3.50

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030

GWP <10

GWP <1000

GWP <2150

HFC-Mix

HFC-32

HFC-407C

HFC-410A

HCF-404A

HCF-134a

HCFC-123

HCFC-22

Refrigerant emissions are about 10% of total emissions

Conclusions on 8 years of data• Abrupt policy change and uncertainty – a three

year carbon tax for example – can make markets act unpredictably, and poorly

• Longer trends are apparent – they need to be expeditedo Reductions in emissions – better

equipment, better handling, and fewer leaks

o Gradual transition to lower GWP gases without picking winners

Introducing low GWP refrigerants in Australia: The example of R32

• R32 has had quick – and early - acceptance into Australia (second after Japan)

• Initial concerns about R32 as an A2L refrigerant – industry worked together to resolve issue

• Strong growth in low GWP refrigerants from leading companies – R32 and HFO chillers introduced

• Education and training on R32 has been strong, but more universal training needed

• Some ill-informed criticism on safety aspects of R32

Why was R32 introduced early into Australia?

u Technician Licencingu Capacity to roll out training

nationallyu Ability to get everyone in a single

room

Challenges in introducing R32

u Standardsu Tanks and Valvesu Supply across a big

countryu Recovery of a

flammable refrigerant

Thanks for your time!!

Greg Pickergreg.picker@refrigerantsaustralia.org