Reuse fluorinated greenhouse gases ultimate wastes towards EU circular economy through an innovative fluorinated gas distillation system

Introduction

Fluorinated gases (F-gases), mainly used as refrigerants in the cooling and refrigeration sector, have a strong environmental impact, deeply participating in the global warming potential. For a long time, human activities have been creating fluorinated gas emissions much more rapidly than the Earth can remove them, increasing global levels.

Project Objectives

To meet the challenges of the EU policy objectives towards decarbonisation and carbon neutrality by 2030, the LIFE@F-GASES project’s ambition is to engage in the industrialization of a new treatment system (recovery, treatment, and reuse) of fluorinated greenhouse gases. This system is capable of distilling waste mixtures from the recovery of refrigerants.

Unique Treatment Method

This new treatment method, the only one of its kind in Europe, promotes the reuse of substances that have been brought up to standard, either on their own or as part of a low-GWP mixture. This approach supports a circular economy in Europe for the health, refrigeration, and HVAC industries.

Project Scope

Thus, LIFE@F-GASES is a project for an innovative treatment system for fluorinated greenhouse gases used in the health, refrigeration, air conditioning, and fire extinguishing industries. It consists of:

1. Recovery
2. Treatment
3. Reuse in a circular economy logic

Environmental Impact

This distillation system for fluorinated greenhouse gases will eventually save up to 1.637 Mteq CO2 per year and up to 2.268 Mteq CO2 per year indirectly. It will also contribute to the EU's autonomy in the supply of fluorinated gases, enhancing self-sufficiency.

Market Context

European refrigerant production has been declining almost steadily since 2007, making the continent increasingly dependent on imports of these substances.

Import Statistics

Considering that in 2018, HFC production in Europe was 19,270 tons and imports were 77,069 tons, it can be estimated that about 80% of European demand is met through imports. In 2018:

• 71% of HFC imports into Europe came from China
• 20% came from the USA

Conclusion

The possibility of putting reclaimed fluorinated gases back on the market is therefore all the more important in view of this issue of independence of European supply.