The U.K. government has hinted at a potential tightening of its HFC regulation, with the possibility of accelerating the phasedown schedule and introducing new bans, according to Jacob Andresen, Head of Domestic F-Gas and ODS at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
To support the its net-zero commitments and realign with the EU’s updated refrigerant policies, the U.K. government plans to consult industry stakeholders later this year on updating the national f-gas regulation, Andresen announced during a briefing event hosted by the U.K.’s Register of Companies Competent to Manage Refrigerants (REFCOM).
“We still intend to consult on proposals to reform f-gas legislation,” Andresen confirmed with NaturalRefrigerants.com. “Until the consultation is launched, we can’t provide any information about what it might cover.”
As part of this consultation, DEFRA is particularly interested in understanding the challenges hindering the wider adoption of low-GWP refrigerants, including technological limitations and safety concerns, he added.
The briefing event was held in April at the London headquarters of the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA), REFCOM’s parent organization.
U.K. regulation
The U.K.’s current f-gas regulation, introduced in 2014, predates the 2016 adoption of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which imposes more stringent requirements. As a result, further action is needed by the U.K. government to ensure compliance with global commitments. For example, current U.K. regulation aims to reduce HFC usage by 79% by 2030 – relative to average levels recorded from 2009 to 2012 – while the Kigali Amendment sets a stricter target of an 85% reduction by 2036. Future legislation will need to address this gap.
Initially aligned with the EU’s 2014 F-gas Regulation, the U.K.’s legislation on f-gases was established while the country was still an EU member. Following its departure from the bloc in 2020, the U.K. must now consider how to respond to the EU’s revised policy, which mandates the world’s first full phase out of f-gases in new equipment by 2050.
“The 2024 EU F-gas Regulation is an example of the regulatory standards that the U.K. will need to achieve,” said the U.K.’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) in its Seventh Carbon Budget. “The Government should consider the case for regulatory alignment with the EU, which would reduce costs since many of the products and equipment involved are imported from the EU.”
The CCC has also stressed the importance of a clear and timely regulatory framework to enable the innovation and deployment of climate-friendly technologies.
“Regulation would provide the necessary incentives for research and development into lower-GWP alternative products,” the organization said. “It would provide U.K. supply chains with the certainty they need to train and grow their workforces.”
“The Government should consider the case for regulatory alignment with the EU, which would reduce costs since many of the products and equipment involved are imported from the EU.”
Climate Change Committee
F-gas emissions reductions
In 2022, the U.K. reported f-gas emissions of 7.6 million metric tons of CO2e – roughly 2% of the country’s total emissions, the vast majority of which (74%) came from leaks in refrigeration and air-conditioning systems.
To meet its 2050 net-zero target, the government must regulate the transition to “less harmful alternatives,” according to the CCC. Under the Committee’s Balanced Pathway scenario, f-gas emissions should be halved by 2030 and reduced by 79% by 2050, relative to 2022 levels.
This trajectory includes the expected rollout of heat pumps and emphasizes the importance of minimizing emissions from HVAC&R systems via lower-GWP refrigerants and improved refrigerant recovery at equipment end-of-life.
Addressing safety concerns
At the REFCOM event, participants expressed concerns around the flammability of some alternative refrigerants and called for government support to improve industry awareness and technical training.
Kevin Morrissey, Technical Director of BESA, noted that questions about alternative refrigerants and HFC phase-down strategies are among the most common technical queries his department receives.
“This is a tough and challenging industry, and there is now much greater focus on competence and compliance,” he noted.
To support the U.K.’s transition to climate-friendly alternatives like natural refrigerants, several manufacturers, including Carrier and Aira, have been investing in national training facilities and programs in recent years.
