ATMOsphere (formerly shecco), publisher of Hydrocarbons21.com, will host a webinar on June 27 at 12pm CEST to launch a new free-to-download report on “Accelerating the EU’s Shift Towards Natural Refrigerant Domestic Heat Pumps.” Registration is required to attend.
Over the past six months, ATMOsphere has been conducting an in-depth investigation into the domestic heat pump sector (excluding air-to-air heat pumps) in the EU. The research was conceptualized by the European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and the Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS). It was funded by the European Climate Foundation (ECF).
The aim of this qualitative research study was to highlight the potential impact of the EU F-gas Regulation’s HFC refrigerant phase down on the domestic heat pump sector in the EU, while also considering how an even stricter phase down that is in line with EU climate neutrality objectives can accelerate the shift from fossil-fuel-based heating systems to clean heat pumps.
Not all heat pumps are equal
Heat pumps are expected to contribute significantly to the decarbonization of space and water heating in European households. However, not all heat pumps are the same. Despite the availability of suitable natural refrigerant-based heat pumps in the European market, domestic heat pump systems often rely on highly polluting synthetic substances like fluorinated greenhouse gases (f-gases) to transfer heat. But as EU policy tightens around the use of f-gases, the path to changing to natural refrigerant alternatives in heat pumps becomes even more obvious for ensuring future-proof, sustainable installations, the report notes.
On April 5, 2022, the European Commission proposed a new amended version of the EU F-gas Regulation targeting f-gases. The proposal would strengthen the HFC phase-down schedule (an approximately 98% reduction by 2048 of the level in 2015) and would introduce prohibitions targeting refrigerants used in new heat pumps and air conditioners.
The insights shared in this report support the stance that the timelines related to the decarbonization of the heating sector should not be separated from the wind down of fluorinated substances used as refrigerants.
Sharing key findings in a webinar
The webinar will be hosted by Marc Chasserot, ATMOsphere Founder and CEO, and will feature an introduction by Carolina Koronen, ECOS Programme Manager. Key findings from the report will be shared by the lead author of the report, Thomas Trevisan, ATMOsphere Policy Officer.
Register here to attend the webinar on June 27.
Report coming soon
The report will be available for download after the June 27 webinar, and key parts will also be available on a dedicated web page.
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