HFC alternative technology demonstration projects

HFCs are potent greenhouse gases used as alternatives to ozone-depleting substances (ODS) being phased out under the Montreal Protocol. Atmospheric observations show that the volume of HFCs in the atmosphere is increasing rapidly, about 10-15% per year.

Significant growth in HFC use is expected in developing countries because of population growth, rapid urbanization, electrification and changing consumer patterns. The increased use of refrigerants will also result in increased energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.  If no measures are taken, it is estimated that HFCs will amount to 9-19% of total CO₂ emissions by 2050.

Therefore there is a need to show the technical feasibility and commercial viability of low-GWP, energy efficient technologies, which could then lead to the broader uptake/replication of the technologies concerned across the sector or geographic area

The Coalition supports development and deployment of climate-friendly energy-efficient alternatives and technologies, minimizing HFC leaks through responsible management, and encouraging recovery, recycling, reclamation, and eventual destruction of high-GWP HFCs.

This workstream aims to promote broader uptake of more climate-friendly alternatives to HFCs, particularly in developing countries. Projects that have received funding aim to test and validate technologies that are, or potentially could be, commercially viable alternatives to the use of high-GWP HFCs.  While some of these technologies are already used in some regions or climates, they are generally not yet used in the identified country or region of the proposed project.

Projects will ensure engagement of key stakeholders, and demonstration of climate-friendly technology with significant potential for broad application. Each project is expected to result in reductions of both HFCs and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from lower energy consumption of new technologies, and will be monitored, quantified and reported.

The demonstration projects will:   

• Test and validate technologies that may be commercially viable alternatives to high-GWP HFC
• Disseminate information that will promote awareness and broad applicability of such technologies and the results of the demonstration project, which will be done in coordination with other capacity-building activities of the HFC Initiative

Three technology demonstration projects were approved by the CCAC Working Group in sectors where there are promising climate-friendly technologies that are alternatives to high-GWP HFCs. Demonstrations target sectors with significant use or projected use of HFCs that could be converted to low-GWP alternatives, taking into account the potential for broad commercial applicability.

These projects are:
 

• HFC-free Supermarket Initiative in Chile (Country: Chile; Implementer: UNDP; Status: Completed)
• Technology Demonstration of Low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) High Efficiency Mobile Air-Conditioning (MAC) (Country: India; Implementer: IGSD; Status: Ongoing)
• Demonstration of non-HFC alternatives to HCFC-22 in retail installations in countries with high ambient temperatures (Country: Jordan; Implementer: UNIDO; Status: Ongoing)