EU technical note on F-gases compromise packages and impacts

The European Commission circulated a revised technical note to delegations ahead of the Working Party on the Environment meeting on 12 September 2023 analysing four compromise F-gas phase-out packages.

• Main announcement/action: The note analyses four compromise packages covering: (1) full F-gas phase-out in medium-voltage switchgear (cascade approach, GWP1000/2000 second step; natural alternatives and fluoroketone discussed, availability to cover whole range by 2026); (2) small split ACs - cascade to GWP150 in 2027/2028 and no F-gases in 2030+ (propane R-290 identified as viable); (3) commercial refrigerators/freezers (hydrocarbons/CO2, 100% by 2030 modelling, medical exemptions possible); (4) larger chillers moving to GWP150 (cascade: GWP750 in 2027, GWP150 in 2030+). Includes cost and emissions estimates and sector-specific timelines.
• Background and details: The note assesses technical feasibility, market availability and costs, cites examples and figures such as €17.450 vs. €18.000 (upfront equipment estimate fluoroketone vs natural for switchgear), chiller upfront costs (€87,500, €73,500, €70,000, centrifugal: €154,000 vs €141,400), and policy interactions (quota system, REPower EU). Industry actors named include ABB and 3M; propane (R-290) manufacturing capacity references UNIDO and uptake examples in India (≈800,000 units) and China (≈300,000+ units). The document is an internal technical non-paper for discussion, not an official Commission position.