Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

Refrigerant used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems is responsible about 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In 2000, stationary air conditioning systems account for 37% of global refrigerant emission and 21% of CO2 equivalent emissions of refrigerants. However, more than 80% market growth of air conditioning systems are projected especially in developing countries due to their economic growth and climate changes. The CO2 equivalent emissions of the air conditioning systems can be evaluated by the life cycle climate performance (LCCP) evaluation method by summing their direct and indirect emissions generated over the lifetime of the system. When the current high GWP refrigerant R-410A is replaced with ultra-low GWP alternative refrigerant with GWP value of 3, the LCCP can be reduced by 17-19%. Low-GWP refrigerants candidates are R-32, R-32 mixtures and natural refrigerants (HC and CO2) and their GWP values will be lower than 700. IEA’s HPT started new Annex: Heat Pump Systems with Low GWP Refrigerants to contribute to expanding the optimized low-GWP air conditioning and heat pump systems, advancing their technology readiness levels by developing design guidelines for low-GWP technologies, assisting to reduce their market barriers and promoting international collaboration. Future heat pump systems should use low-GWP refrigerants and energy efficient technologies to meet latest international regulations and reduce overall environmental impacts.