The Importance of Lifecycle Refrigerant Management in Climate and Ozone Protection

Pallav Purohit (), Tilden Chao, Rick Cooke, Hilde Dhont, Richie Kaur, Roberto Peixoto, Helen Walter-Terrinoni and Ashley Woodcock
Additional contact information
Pallav Purohit: International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
Tilden Chao: Carbon Containment Lab, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
Rick Cooke: Man-West Environmental Group, Crowsnest Pass, AB T0K0M0, Canada
Hilde Dhont: Daikin Europe, 8400 Oostende, Belgium
Richie Kaur: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), New York, NY 10011, USA
Roberto Peixoto: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Instituto Mauá de Tecnologia, São Paulo 09580-900, Brazil
Helen Walter-Terrinoni: Global Climate Policy, Trane Technologies, Davidson, NC 28036, USA
Ashley Woodcock: Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester M23 9LT, UK

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are widely used in refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pumps (RACHP), and various other applications such as aerosols, fire extinguishers, foams, and solvents. Initially, HFCs were adopted as the primary substitutes for ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) regulated under the Montreal Protocol. However, many HFCs are potent greenhouse gases, and as such subject to a global phasedown under the provisions of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. Managing the refrigerant bank of ODSs and HFCs throughout the equipment’s lifecycle—referred to as Lifecycle Refrigerant Management (LRM)—presents a significant challenge but also a significant climate action opportunity. LRM includes the leak prevention, recovery, recycling, reclamation, and destruction (RRRD) of refrigerants. This study employed the GAINS modeling framework to assess the ozone and climate benefits of LRM. The findings indicated that implementing robust LRM practices during the use and end-of-life stages of RACHP equipment could reduce ODS emissions by approximately 5 kt ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) between 2025 and 2040, and HFC and hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) emissions by about 39 Gt CO 2 e between 2025 and 2050. The implementation of robust LRM measures in conjunction with the ongoing phasedown of HFCs under the Kigali Amendment can yield substantial additional climate benefits beyond those anticipated from the HFC phasedown alone.

Keywords: hydrofluorocarbons; Kigali Amendment; Montreal Protocol; ozone-depleting substances; end-of-life; lifecycle refrigerant management; GAINS model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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