F-Gas II regulation and refrigerant emission forecasts in France.

After a long review process, the (UE) N° 517/2014 regulation on fluorinated refrigerants, called "F-gasII", has been published at the Official Journal of European Union on May, 20th 2014, repealing the regulation (EC) N° 842/2006. On top of measures aiming at leakage reduction, bans on high GWP HFCs in certain new equipment and in servicing have been introduced, as well as a phase down of the fluorinated refrigerant quantities placed on the market, starting in 2015. During the F-Gas review period, the CES of MINES-ParisTech carried out a study regarding alternatives to high GWP HFCs in refrigeration and air-conditioning applications. Besides, the RIEP software (Refrigerant Inventory and Emission Previsions) has been developed by the CES, based on IPCC recommendations, to estimate refrigerant emissions and create projection scenarios. In this article, a likely scenario of refrigerant evolution is set up, taking into account the new F-Gas regulation, by application. Two forecast calculations are then performed in the case of France. It will allow the comparison of CO2 emission refrigerants due to all refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment with or without the new F-Gas regulation and this until 2035. The phase down impacts are also analyzed.