Availability of Low-GWP Alternatives Options for Near Term & Longer Term Transitions

OZONACTION NETWORK FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

OCTOBER 6-8 2010 Mexico, D.F.

Cindy Newberg, Branch Chief

Alternatives & Emissions Reduction Branch

US Environmental Protection Agency

Scope of Presentation

• Context: ODS and HFCs

• Availability of Substitutes: Different Sectors at

Different Times

– Specific Examples

• SNAP

• Summary

Relationship Between Ozone Depleting Substances and Greenhouse Gases

Ozone Depleting Substances(Halogen Gases)

Greenhouse Gases

CFCs

HalonsHFCs

HCFCs

HFC-23HFC-134aHFC-125

CO2

CH4

SF6

PFCs

N2O

CFC-113CFC-12CFC-11

H-1211H-1301

Carbon Tetrachloride(CCl4)

Methyl Chloride(CH3Cl)

Methyl Bromide(CH3Br)

Methyl Chloroform(CH3CCl3)

Many Substitutes Available and More on the Way

• “The ultimate choice of technology to phase-out HCFCs will be based on ozone depletion and also climate impact, health, safety, affordability and availability, as Decision XIX/6 requires”

May 2010 TEAP XXI/9 Task Force Report Assessment Of HCFCs and Environmentally Sound Alternatives

• 2010 TEAP Progress Report– Substitutes for many sectors and sub-sectors available– Additional substitutes under development– Global acceptance for alternatives strengthening– Potential to skip higher-GWP HFC alternatives, go directly to

lower GWP alternatives

Sectors Will Transition at Different Times

• Various factors will influence speed of transition– Domestic and regional requirements, e.g., European F-Gas

rule– Availability of alternatives– Advanced design options that reduce charge size– Global expansion of air-conditioning and refrigeration– Proven technologies, ability to avoid multiple transitions– Opportunity to focus on sectors instead of chemicals

• Examples follow

Potential Near Term Transition: Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning

Passenger Cars and Light Duty Trucks:

Buses and Trains:

Available Options: Commercial Refrigeration

Stand-AloneEquipment

Condensing Unit Systems

Multiplex Rack Systems

Changing Chemicals Is Not Only OptionAdvanced Refrigeration System Designs: • Distributed systems & indirect systems available

– Distributed systems can lower refrigerant charge by 30–50% – Indirect systems can lower refrigerant charge by 50–80%

• Europe: indirect systems are norm• US: distributed systems ~40% of new installations and

indirect systems are gaining significant market share

Supermarkets can reduce HFC use by changing system designs

Available & Near Term Options: Unitary A/C

Alternatives to R-407C & R-410A: - lower GWP HFCs, e.g., HFC-32 - HCs and CO2 - potentially HFOs, blends

U.S. HFC Consumption (MMTCO2eq)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

2010 2020 2030 2040 2050

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Mobile AC

Foams

Refrigeration

Stationary AC

Other Sectors

AC Projected

BAU

Cap

Mitigated

How U.S. Could Meet HFC Phasedown

Known Reduction Opportunities

Country “A” Baseline

• Makeup– 20% Mobile AC (HFC)– 5% Refrigeration (HFC)– 20% Refrigeration (HCFC)– 30% Stationary AC (HCFC)– 20% Foam (HCFC)– 5% Other Sectors (HCFC)

• Growth Rates:– 10% 2010-2030 (majority of HCFC

phased out)– 1% 2030-2050 (population growth)

Baseline

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

How Country “A” Could Meet the HFC Phasedown

Country A HFC Consumption (% of Baseline)

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

Mobile AC

Foams

Refrigeration

Stationary AC

Other Sectors

AC Projected

BAU

Cap

Mitigated

Identifying Safer Alternatives• USEPA evaluates & lists substitutes that reduce

overall risk to human health & environment• Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program

reviews: – ODP and GWP – Flammability– Toxicity– Contributions to smog– Aquatic and ecosystem effects – Occupational health and safety

• 400+ substitutes reviewed for end uses in 8 sectors: – Alternatives acceptable, unacceptable, or acceptable with

use conditions • Prohibited or restricted e.g., from use in occupied

settings, unacceptable where safer alternatives exist for same uses

• SNAP evaluating substitutes that, compared to current options, offer significantly lower- or no-GWP choices

• Lower-GWP alternatives in SNAP review (examples):– Proposed acceptable with use conditions:

• HCs for stand-alone commercial refrigeration

• HCs for residential refrigerator/freezer

• HFO-1234yf for new motor vehicle air conditioners

• CO2 for new motor vehicle air conditioners

What’s Ahead for SNAP?

Summary

• Suite of known alternatives, technologies, and better handling can significantly reduce HFC consumption in near and long term

• Considering HCFCs and HFCs together allows for focus on the sectors, rather than chemicals– In some cases, may reduce need for multiple transitions

• Today there are substitutes for many sectors and sub-sectors available

• Additional substitutes under development– Similar to ODS phaseout

Questions and Comments

• Thank You

• For More Information, Visit:– U.S. EPA’s Website on Ozone Layer Depletion:

• http://www.epa.gov/ozone/strathome.html

– Information and analysis of Amendment Proposal including sector fact sheets:

• http://www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/mpagreement.html