SOLVAY

Phasing out ozone-depleting substances: Industry responses to more sustainable

consumption and production

Jacques de Gerlache, Ph.D. senior toxicologist

Sustainability & Crisis Corporate Communications, Solvay, & European Fluorocarbons Technical Committee (EFCTC)

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Plan of the presentation

1. Developing and Marketing of ODS alternatives

2. Producer / Consumer issues with alternatives

3. some Lessons learned

4. Two remaining challenges

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The Montreal Protocol 20th Anniversary

“Perhaps the single most successful international environmental agreement to date”

• Atmospheric levels of key ozone depleting substances are going down : some chlorinated solvents, CFCs, soon H-CFCs;– Ozone layer should return to pre-1980 levels by 2050 to

2075• Substantial climate benefits

– Climate impact : Approximately 25 billion tonnes of CO2 weighted global warming gasses reduction by 2000

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From CFCs phase out to H-CFCs phase outAFEAS CFCs Annual Production Tonnes

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

450,000

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

CFC-11 CFC-12 CFC-113 CFC-114 CFC-115 HCFCs Consumption Reduction Schedule- Montreal Adjustment 2007

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045

Non A5 Adjustment

Article 5 Adjustment

Base Level 2015Base Level 2009/2010 AverageBase Level 1989

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Absolute production of CFCs, H-CFCs and HFCs

=> HFCs replace CFCs and H-CFCs with much less amounts

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Developing and Marketing of ODS alternatives

AFEAS CFCs,HCFCs (excl. HCFC 22 feedstock) & HFCs Annual Production Tonnes

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

CFCs HCFCs HFCs

CFCs

HFCs

HCFCs

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GWP-weigthed emissions of CFCs, H-CFCs, HFCs compared to fossil fuel CO2

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Consumers issues : Find alternatives to CFCs and H-CFCs in targetted applications

• HFCs are used where they provide a better answer than other solutions, or where other solutions cannot be used due to safety, health or technical reasons.

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Consumers issues : are alternatives to CFCs and H-CFCs equally safe ?

Majors characteristics of HFCs :

• low-toxicity, • low inflammability, • energy-efficiency, • drop-in replacements.

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Meanwhile, although without impact on the ozone layer, HFCs are greenhouse gases

• Their Global Warming Potential (GWP) however is in general lower than the CFCs and HCFCs they replace ;

• Their containment and responsible use over the lifetime of their applications can lead to overall climate benefits.

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Too often, the debate is focused solely on the GWP

Equally important are :• THE QUANTITIES OF GAS EMITTED:

compared to the huge amounts of CO2, CH4 or NOx emitted, the F-gases are minor contributors to the climate impact;

• THE REAL LIFETIME OF THESE GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE: HFCs are essentially degraded in the atmosphere within decades; in contrast, CO2 emissions persist for centuries.

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1st lesson learn : (H)-CFCs substitution :the most important contribution to the decrease of

greenhouse gas emissions

• In 1990, CFCs represented 25% of greenhouse gas emissions ;.

• In 2010, the HFCs replacing them will represent only 2%.

This achievement, made possible with HFCs, represents about 4 times the objectives of the

Kyoto Protocol.

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2D lesson learn : "don't force to danse quicker than the music can play"

In 1994, a company in Europe was the first to stop producing CFCs ;

Some months later the Commission was forced to autorise imports from outside Europe because it was technically not possible to shift so quickly from CFCs to alternatives, including H-CFCs !

Who took advantage of this ? Neither Europe, neither the ozone layer .

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F-gases as alternative to (H)-CFCs may contribute to reduce further the greenhouse

effect.

Why ? BECAUSE THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENCY : • Over the lifetime of an application, the reduction in climate impact

resulting from the improved energy efficiency obtained by using an HFC in some applications can be more important than the impact resulting from the HFC used if it was emitted (which is not necessarily the case).

• Energy efficiency improvements from using HFCs and the impact of their use through the lifetime of the equipment should thus be considered via Life Cycle Climate Performance analysis (LCCP), case by case, before imposing use restrictions and bans.

• Studies are available for insulation foam or the refrigeration chain.

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A first remaining challenge : collect and recycle or destroy remaining (H)-CFCs

• Mainly CFCs and H-CFCs "banks" in old appliances ;

• The whole chain of users has to be involved ; partnerships are the key ; cost management is a must ;

• Producers are ready to play their role : a European producer has a industrial unit operating in Germany to

destroy CFCs and HFCs which recycle Fluorhydric acid and this company has a system in place with customers to recycle SF6 .

• A balance between regulation and incentives is a key to the success.

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A second remaining challenge : Monitoring and containing F-gas emissions This is the objective of the F-Gas Regulation 842/2006 • Key Measures applied from 4 July 2007

– Containment and some specific use bans• Current focus on Implementation

– Labelling & Reporting requirements– Leakage Inspection Requirements– Training & Certification

• F-Gas Review by 4 July 2011– Industry wants to make F-Gas a success and show that

containment works

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Figaroo : a website to provide practical information to users on F-gas regulation

application • A single, searchable point to

promote up to date information on F-Gas.

• Highlights Member State activity and interpretation in one place.

• Provide answers to questions and examples of best practice.

www.figaroo.org

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Estimate of Impact of EU MAC DirectiveEU HFC 134a MAC use

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

HF

C 1

34

a, r

ela

tiv

e t

o 2

00

5=

10

0

new vehicle types ban on use of HFC 134a

all new vehicle ban on use of HFC 134a

service of existing vehicles

One condition : alternatives to HFCs in MAC appliances to be technically reliable and economically affordable at large scale

From containment to bans : About the MAC directive

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Conclusion F-gases represented a unique opportunity to contribute to save the ozone layer

AND

to contribute significantly to the decrease of greenhosue gas emissions .

Used responsably in specific key societal applications, HFCs remain often the preferable and a sustainable solution

"Ne jetez pas le bébé avec l'eau du bain !"

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thank you for your attention