On 20 February 2024, Regulation 2024/573 of the European Parliament and of the Council on fluorinated greenhouse gases (FGas 2024) amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 was published.
The following is an overview of the main measures that have been approved by the European Commission for the update of the F-Gas 2024 regulation. This affects the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector in terms of:
For manufacturers of refrigeration equipment, such as INTARCON, air conditioning and heat pumps, new bans for new equipment and appliances will be added to Annex IV. Notably, it establishes a general ban on refrigeration equipment, except chillers, according to which from 2030 no new equipment/installations using F-gases with GWP above 150 may be sold. It also establishes new bans for air conditioners and heat pumps, as well as chillers.
Possibility to modify the quota system for HFCs by increasing the amount for the marketing of heat pumps, if an assessment carried out by the European Commission will show that this quota system would be affecting the heat pump market. All this in order not to compromise the objectives of the EU’s RePower Plan[1].
Furthermore, the update of the FGas 2024 prohibits the export of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump equipment with GWP higher than 1000, starting one year after the entry into force of the ban on their placing on the EU market according to the timetable foreseen in Article IV of this proposed Regulation.
For refrigeration and air conditioning installers, the update of the FGas 2024 means:
New requirements for leakage control, specifically, the obligation to carry out periodic leakage checks for equipment containing unsaturated hydrofluorocarbons (HFOs). Previously, this obligation only existed for equipment containing HFCs, perfluorocarbons (PFCs) or mixtures thereof. Also, as mentioned above, the thresholds that determine the frequency of leakage checks are redefined.
It establishes the obligation for already certified installers to undergo additional training within 5 years after the entry into force of this legislative proposal. In this regard, it should be noted that Spain was a pioneer in introducing the obligation to carry out training in alternative technologies within 4 years after the entry into force of Royal Decree 115/2017.
From 2025, the scope of application of the ban on the use of virgin fluorinated gases with GWP above 2,500 is extended to equipment with a charge of less than 40 tonnes CO2-eq. The use of recycled and reclaimed gases is allowed until 2030.
In addition, from 2032, the use of virgin fluorinated gases with a GWP higher than 750 in refrigeration equipment (except chillers) will not be allowed for servicing existing equipment. The use of recycled and reclaimed gases will be allowed.
Finally, in the case of heat pumps and air conditioning equipment, the use of virgin fluorinated gases with GWP higher than 2,500 in maintenance and servicing operations will be prohibited from 2026. Only the use of recycled and reclaimed gases will be allowed until 2032.
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