2 Legal Disclaimer The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), together with the 21 Regional Agencies (ARPA) and Provincial Agencies (APPA) for the protection of the environment, as of 14 January 2017 is part of the National Network System for the Protection of the Environment (SNPA), established by the Law June 28, 2016, n.132. The Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, or persons acting on its behalf, are not responsible for the use that may be made of the information contained in this report. ISPRA - Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale Via Vitaliano Brancati, 48 – 00144 Roma www.isprambiente.gov.it ISPRA, Documenti tecnici 2019 ISBN 978-88-448-0959-1 Extracts from this document may be reproduced on the condition that the source is acknowledged Graphic design Cover design: Franco Iozzoli Coordination of the online publication Daria Mazzella ISPRA – Communications Area May 2018 3 Authors Gabriella Rago, Federica Moricci, Andrea Gagna, Barbara Gonella, Riccardo De Lauretis ISPRA - Institute for Environmental Protection and Research Department for Environmental Assessment, Monitoring and Sustainability Unit for Emissions Estimation, Air Pollution and Climate Change Prevention, Impact Evaluation, Mitigation and Adaptation Measures 4 SUMMARY INTRODUCTION 7 1 AEROSOL 9 1.1 Introduction 9 1.2 Overview of the sector 9 1.3 Methodology 10 1.4 Legislation: EU F-gas Regulation 11 1.5 Description of systems and appliances placed on the market sector 11 1.6 HFCs alternatives in Italy and challenges for the future 12 2 AIR CONDITIONING 15 2.1 Introduction 15 2.2 Overview of the sector 15 2.3 Methodology 27 2.4 Legislation: the EU F-gas Regulation 33 2.5 Description of systems and appliances placed on the market sector 33 2.6 HFCs alternatives in Italy 39 AIR CONDITIONING SHEET 42 3 FIRE PROTECTION 44 3.1 Introduction 44 3.2 Overview of the sector 44 3.3 Metodology 46 3.4 Legislation: the EU F-gas Regulation 46 3.5 Description of systems and appliances placed on the market sector 47 3.6 HFCs alternatives in Italy 50 FIRE PROTECTION SHEET 55 4 FOAMS 73 4.1 Introduction 73 4.2 Overview of the sector 73 4.3 Methodology 74 4.4 Legislation: the EU F-gas Regulation 74 4.5 Description of systems and appliances placed on the market sector 75 4.6 HFCs alternatives in Italy 76 FOAMS SHEET 79 5 REFRIGERATION 82 5.1 Introduction 82 5.2 Overview of the sector 84 5.3 Methodology 92 5.4 Legislation: the EU F-gas Regulation 95 5 5.5 Description of systems and appliances placed on the market sector 95 5.6 Alternative to HFCs in Italy for commercial refrigeration 98 5.6.1 Stand-alone units: alternative to HFCs in Italy 98 5.6.2 Condensing units: alternative to HFCs in Italy 98 5.6.3 Centralised systems: alternative to HFCs in Italy 99 5.6.4 Resewarch, ecxperimentation and future challenges: elettromagnetic refrigeration 105 REFRIGERATION SHEET 106 6 TRAINING 160 6.1 Introduction 160 CONCLUSION 172 GLOSSARY 174 REFERENCES 176 6 INTRODUCTION The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, signed in Rwanda, on October 15, 2016 aims to reduce the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). 1 The Amendment will have significant impacts on the developing countries, where the shifting from HCFCs to HFCs is still underway. No particular effects, instead, are expected on the European Union and its Member States that has already taken actions to reduce HFCs, in line with the objectives of Kigali Amendment, by adopting in 2014 the EU Regulation 517/2014. As a consequence of this, the sectors in the world that use HFCs in their products need technological innovations and those countries/companies that own innovative technologies can support others in the shift to low climate impact solutions. This is the case of Italy where many companies have been developing advanced technological solutions aimed at mitigating the greenhouse effects and complying with EU Regulation 517/2014. In this context, the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea (IMELS) considered it appropriate to launch a survey to have a picture of the state of the art on substances and/or technologies alternative to HFCs in our country, that adequately respond to the major environmental priorities. The aim of the survey was to promote “made in Italy” innovative technologies in the world, consistent with a more sustainable growth for the country and the English language was chosen to make the book available to stakeholders abroad (Government and stakeholders in foreign Countries outside the EU, for instance). Therefore, a technical collaboration agreement between ISPRA and IMELS was signed for the creation of "Book on alternatives to HFCs and opportunities for the Italian system" that collects the Italian technological excellence with low or no effects on the climate change. The “Book”, at the beginning, was intended as a “desk manual”, easy to consult, that IMELS would use at international level in the context of multilateral or bilateral cooperation. It could be used too for the activities supported by the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal of Protocol, that finance projects in the Developing countries. These projects represent an opportunity for employment and enhancement for the Italian companies. The sectors investigated in the following sections of the document are: • refrigeration; • air conditioning; • foams; • fixed fire protection systems; • aerosols. For each of them, alternative substances or technologies, critical issues and market responses have been identified. A separate chapter has been dedicated to training activities. 1 Table: Adaptation to the Kigali Amendment phase - down Groups of countries Baseline of reference starting Average consumption level for the three-year period 2011- I Group:Industrialized countries 2019 2013 plus 15% of HCFC Average consumption level for II Group: Developing countries (including the three-year period 2020- 2024 China, Brazil, South Africa) 2022 plus 65% of HCFC Average consumption level III Group: Developing countries (Iran, Iraq, 2028 three years 2024-2026 Pakistan, India e GCC) plus 65% of HCFC 7 The survey carried out was the first of its kind at national level and critical issues, mainly related to the availability of data and the lack of necessary contributions, have emerged. Infact, the participation of the companies to the survey was not the same for all the sectors: good response from the refrigeration and fire protection sectors was registered, low response instead from air conditioning and foams sectors. Neverthless, this work represents the first census in Italy on “made in Italy” technological innovations alternative to HFCs and the first attempt to build a preliminary picture of climate friendly technologies in the investigated sectors in Italy. Methodology For the identification of the Italian excellences in each sector, ISPRA proceeded with the criterion of examining exclusively 100% Italian companies. However, after a preliminary scoping survey, it emerged that, unlike all other sectors, in the air conditioning, most Italian companies have been aquired by foreign companies (China, Japan, Sweden, USA). These investitors in most cases have left research and development sectors in our country, and nothing has changed in the factory after the acquisition. For this reason, for the air conditioning sector, it was decided to take into consideration not only the 100% Italian companies, but also those companies which have been acquired by foreigners which continue to be located in our country, with research, development and production. In order to gather information and get in touch with as many companies as possible, an internet search was carried out, the trade associations and stakeholder were contacted, scientific publications were consulted together with a list of “F-gas contacts” owned by Ispra, infact not all companies are associated with trade associations. Afterwards, for the sectors involved in the survey, workshops were held with the presence of companies, stakeholders, trade associations. These workshops focused on the possibility of replacing HFCs with technologies and/or patents that distinguish Italian products on the international market. As previously mentioned, the participation and contributions of the companies were not those hoped for and the information gathered was fewer than preannounced by companies themselves, especially in some sectors as aerosols or air conditioning. How to read the book Each chapter opens with an overview of the sector at national level, including data and information about the market in terms of typology of products, production, sells, import, export and trends. It is followed by the description of the methodology adopted for the sector, an analysys of the F-gas regulation relevant for the concerned sector. The focus of the chapters is on the alternatives to HFCs in Italy. The reference technologies for each company are presented together with a "technical sheet" of the companies that participated and responded to the survey. The technical sheets are conceived as true identity cards of the companies and contain information on the company, contacts, geographical location in Italy and in the world, the market segment and the technology / patent alternative to HFCs produced. To better orient the reader to the book, each sector is characterized by a specific colour: blue for refrigeration, grey for air conditioning; ocher for foams; bordeaux for fire-fighting systems; celestial for aerosol; green for training. The colours are also in the index to help in the research of the specific sector. Conclusion The main result of the survey is the commitment of the Italian companies in the research and development of new technologies in the sectors using HFCs. Italy, although not among countries manufacturing refrigerant gases, stands out worldwide thanks to leading companies in the refrigeration, air conditioning, foams and fixed fire-fighting systems, which have been able to produce innovative technologies and customize their products according to customer needs, climatic conditions and local conditions.