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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)
SOLVAY
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
SOLVAY
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
SOLVAY
From CFCs phase out to H-CFCs phase out
AFEAS CFCs Annual Production Tonnes
450,000
400,000
350,000
300,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
CFC-11
CFC-12
CFC-113
CFC-114
20
04
20
03
20
02
20
01
20
00
19
99
19
98
19
97
19
96
19
95
19
94
19
93
19
92
19
91
19
90
19
89
19
88
19
87
19
86
19
85
19
84
19
83
19
82
19
81
19
80
0
HCFCs Consumption Reduction Schedule- Montreal Adjustment 2007
CFC-115
120%
Base Level 1989
Base Level
2009/2010 Average
Base Level 2015
100%
Article 5 Adjustment
80%
60%
40%
20%
Non A5 Adjustment
0%
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
2030
SOLVAY
2035
2040
2045
Absolute production of CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs
=> HFCs replace CFCs and H-CFCs with much less amounts
SOLVAY
Developing and Marketing of ODS
alternatives
AFEAS CFCs,HCFCs (excl. HCFC 22 feedstock) & HFCs Annual Production Tonnes
1,200,000
1,000,000
CFCs
800,000
600,000
HCFCs
400,000
200,000
HFCs
19
80
19
81
19
82
19
83
19
84
19
85
19
86
19
87
19
88
19
89
19
90
19
91
19
92
19
93
19
94
19
95
19
96
19
97
19
98
19
99
20
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
0
CFCs
HCFCs
HFCs
SOLVAY
GWP-weigthed emissions of CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs compared to fossil fuel CO2
SOLVAY
SOLVAY
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.
SOLVAY
Consumers issues : are alternatives to
CFCs and H-CFCs equally safe ?
Majors characteristics of
HFCs :
•
•
•
•
low-toxicity,
low inflammability,
energy-efficiency,
drop-in replacements.
SOLVAY
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.
SOLVAY
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.
SOLVAY
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.
SOLVAY
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 .
SOLVAY
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.
SOLVAY
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.
SOLVAY
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
SOLVAY
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
SOLVAY
From containment to bans :
About the MAC directive
Estimate of Impact of EU MAC Directive
EU HFC 134a MAC use
120
HFC 134a, relative to 2005=100
100
80
all new vehicle ban
on use of HFC 134a
new vehicle types ban
on use of HFC 134a
60
40
service of
existing vehicles
20
20
19
20
18
20
17
20
16
20
15
20
14
20
13
20
12
20
11
20
10
20
09
20
08
20
07
20
06
20
05
20
04
20
03
20
02
20
01
20
00
20
99
20
98
19
97
19
96
19
95
19
94
19
19
19
93
0
One condition : alternatives to HFCs in MAC appliances to be technically
reliable and economically affordable at large scale
SOLVAY
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 !"
SOLVAY
thank you for your attention
SOLVAY