This was the final event of the TRI-HP project that took place on Brussels on 7 February 2023 and livestreamed through the BUILD UP portal. The project outcomes related to heat pumps based on natural refrigerants were presented and we took the opportunity to discuss the ongoing revision of the F-Gas Regulation with a focus on the role of heat pumps. The timing of the event couldn't have been more timely with the negotiations in the European Parliament on the regulation going at full speed.
Download the master slide deck here.
Watch the recording (see agenda at the bottom of this page):
The Commission’s proposal for a revision of the F-Gas Regulation, published in April 2022, intends to phase-down fluorinated gas (F-Gas) emissions by 98% until 2050. F-gases, such as hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are the most commonly used refrigerants in heat pumps. The phase-down has sparked discussions throughout the RACHP industry as it could become an additional barrier to the market uptake of heat pumps. Others argue that HFCs used in heat pumps can leak into the atmosphere and they are highly potent greenhouse gases with a very high Global Warming Potential (GWP), which are much stronger than CO2. Alternative solutions are available on the market already today, being heat pumps based on natural refrigerants such as propane or CO2.
The TRI-HP project worked on innovative heating & cool systems with a high share of renewables and based on heat pumps using natural refrigerants. In Q1 of 2023 the European Parliament and Council will start the inter-institutional negotiations on the F-Gas Regulation which is why for its final event TRI-HP wants to bring together researchers, industry stakeholders and policy-makers to further discuss the potential and evolutions of heat pumps based on natural refrigerants and if the market is ready for the phase-down(/out) of HFCs by 2050.
The event is divided into two parts: In the first session we will hear from research experts and industry stakeholders what heat pumps based on natural refrigerants are, the application of different refrigerants such as propane or CO2, their market readiness and social barriers of heat pumps in general.
The second session will focus on the F-Gas Regulation Revision, the ongoing negotiations and what the opportunities and risks are with a phase-down(/out) of HFCs & HFOs. The session will end with a panel discussion that brings together policy, industry & research experts that represent different sides for an open debate.
AGENDA:
14:00 – 15:30: Heat pumps based on natural refrigerants
Moderated by Daniel Carbonell (Institute for Solar Technology)
- 14:00 – 14:15: TRI-HP in a nutshell
Dr. Daniel Carbonell – Institute for Solar Technology
- 14:15 – 14:30: Natural refrigerants in heat pumps
Raphael Gerber – Heim AG
- 14:30 – 14:45: Application of CO2 & propane heat pumps in different sectors
Prof. Dr. Armin Hafner – Norwegian University of Science & Technology
- 14:45 – 15:00: Market for heat pumps based on natural refrigerants
Dr. Sabrina Munao - ATMOsphere
- 15:00 – 15:15: Social acceptance of heat pumps
Dr. Thomas Friedrich & Dr. Immanuel Stieß – Institute for Social-Ecological Research
- 15:15 – 15:30: Q&A
15:30 – 16:00: Coffee Break
16:00 – 18:00: F-Gas Regulation: Phasing down HFCs & HFOs in heat pumps
Moderated by Jasper Vermaut (REHVA)
- 16:00 – 16:20: Overview of the F-Gas Regulation Revision
Arno Kaschl – Policy Officer at DG CLIMA, European Commission
- 16:20 – 16:35: Opinion of European Economic and Social Committee on the Revision
Kęstutis Kupšys – Rapporteur of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) on the Revision
- 16:35 – 16:50: Comparing the use of HFCs & HFOs with natural refrigerants in heat pumps
Prof. Dr. Michael Kauffeld – Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences
- 16:50 – 17:05: Negotiations in ENVI on the F-Gas Regulation Revision
Stelios Kympouropoulos – Shadow-Rapporteur (EPP) ENVI Committee for European Parliament
- 17:05 - 17:20: Risks of rapid deployment of heat pumps based on natural refrigerants
Coen van de Sande - President Association of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heat Pump contractors (AREA)
- 17:20 – 18:00: Panel Discussion on the phase-down of F-Gases in heat pumps:
- Hilde Dhont – Europeah Heat Pump Association (as a member of EHPA's Task Force on Refrigerants)
- Veerle Beelaerts – European Heating Industry
- Davide Sabbadin – European Environmental Bureau
- Prof. Dr. Michael Kauffeld – Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences