4 Emission of F-gases

The Greenhouse gases: HFCs, PFCs and SF6

This section reports the actual emissions of the greenhouse F-gases HFCs, PFCs, and SF₆ for 2007. All emissions are calculated as actual emissions according to IPCC’s tier 2 methodology. The calculation is based on the reports on consumption of these substances analysed by application areas (section 3.2). For relevant product groups, adjustments have been made for imports and exports of the substances in products (see also chapter two for principal description of methodology). The specific emission calculation refers to appendix 4 which shows the particular emission factors, calculation method and assumptions, determination of IPPC Tier method etc., in relation to calculation of emissions from individual substance and application areas /4, 16/.

The GWP-weighted actual emissions of HFCs, PFCs, and SF₆ in 2007 is calculated to 884.4 thousand tonnes CO₂ equivalents. The corresponding emissions were approx. 865.3 thousand tonnes CO₂ equivalents in 2006, which corresponds to a calculated total increase of approx. 19.1 thousand tonnes CO₂ equivalents.

The consumption and GWP contribution for HFCs, PFCs, and SF₆ for 2006 and 2007 are shown in the table below.

Table 4.1 Consumption and GWP contribution by substance group, tonnes

Substance group	Consumption 2006, tonnes	Consumption 2007, tonnes	GWP contribution 2006, tonnes	GWP contribution 2007, tonnes
HFCs	558.8	403.2	833 600	838 724
PFCs	0.5	0.7	15 700	15 362
SF₆	4.2	5.4	36 000	30 347
Total			865 300	884 434

The HFC emission from commercial refrigerators (HFC-134a, HFC-404a and HFC-407c) increased in 2007 as compared to 2006. The increase is coursed solely by stock emission from the commercial refrigerants.

4.1.1 Emissions of HFCs from refrigerants

As required in the IPCC guidance for calculation of emission of f-gases a distinction is made between:

Fridges and freezers for household use and retailers etc.
Commercial refrigeration (in industry and retail) and stationary air conditioning systems
Mobile air conditioning systems (in cars, trucks, bus, trains etc.)
Mobile refrigeration systems (in vans and lorries)

Actual emissions from these sources occur in connection with:

- filling of refrigerants (emission is 0.5 percent to 2 per cent of refilled amount depending on application area).

- continual release during the operational lifetime. An assumed average value which account operational leakage including release occurring as a result of accident and damage (depending on application area, the average yearly emission differ from 10 percent to 33 percent).

Release resulting from disposal of items and equipment in the applications is not calculated as a contribution to the total f-gas emissions in Denmark because Danish legislation ensures that management and treatment of refrigerants prevent uncontrolled emissions. Thus, disposal in Denmark is stated as an activity in the calculations where zero emission occurs and this principal statement are used in order to reduce stock (the quantity of substances contained in a product after end life time).

Appendix 3 shows the specific emission factors used in the calculations.

Commercial refrigeration and stationary A/C systems

Commercial refrigeration, used e.g. in retail, supermarket, restaurants etc. or in industry, and stationary A/C systems, also used by retailers and industry, as well in offices, constitute the largest source of emissions. The most commonly used refrigerants in this product group are HFC-134a, HFC-404a and HFC-407c, where HFC-404a stands for the majority of the consumption and emissions in 2007.

In addition, use of the refrigerants HFC-408a, HFC-409a, HFC-410a, and HFC-507c is less common, and HFC-401a and HFC-402a are phased out in Denmark because of the substances contents of ozone depleting substances.

It is not relevant to adjust for imports and exports of HFCs in stationary commercial refrigeration and stationary A/C systems since filling of refrigerants only will take place on site when the units are installed.

Table 4.2 shows the consumption, stock and actual emission for 2007 for the main HFC substances used in Danish commercial refrigeration systems. Emissions for HFCs have been converted to CO₂ equivalents in order to take into account the different GWP values of the substances and emission for 2010, 2015 and 2020 in a future scenario is also shown.

Table 4.2 Consumption, stock and actual emissions and GWP contribution from commercial refrigeration 2007; GWP contribution for 2010, 2015 and 2020, tonnes

Click here to see "Table 4.2 Consumption, stock and actual emissions and GWP contribution from commercial refrigeration 2007; GWP contribution for 2010, 2015 and 2020, tonnes".

The projected future scenario takes into account the effect of a statutory order on phasing-out HFCs etc. and the effect of taxes on F-gases. As the tabel indicate the emissions from commercial refrigeration will continue in several years even there are no installations of new HFC refrigeration systems because of the statutory order which not allow construction of new installations (larger than 10 kg HFC) after 1. January 2007. In the trend analysis, the total emission from this sector is estimated to more than 320 000 tonnes CO₂ equivalents in year 2015. But after then a significant reduction is expected and in year 2020 most HFC refrigeration systems is considered phased out.

Refrigerators/freezers

Actual emissions from refrigerants in refrigerators and freezers are determined on the basis of consumption adjusted for imports and exports of HFCs. The calculation assumes that the refrigerant is removed and treated upon disposal so that no emission occurs (see appendix 3).

When adjusting for imports and exports, the estimates of imports/exports in Environmental Project no. 523 are used /2/. In this case, exports are assumed to comprise 50 percent of the consumption pr. year. The calculation is made on the basis of Statistics Denmark's foreign trade statistics /3/ of average figures of the amount of HFC-134a in a standard fridge/freezer manufactured in 1999. This figure has not been updated

Table 4.3 below shows actual emissions from refrigerators/freezers in 2007, 2010 and 2015.

Table 4.3 Emissions of refrigerants from refrigerators/freezers 2007,2010 and 2015 tonnes

	HFC-134a			HFC-404a
	2007	2010	2015	2007	2010	2015
Consumption	33.5	33.5	33.5	3.0	3.0	3.0
Emissions during production	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.1	0.1	0.1
Export	16.7	16.7	16.7	0.0	0.0	0.0
Stock	850.4	825.6	466.1	85.3	89.6	50.9
Emission from stock	8.4	8.4	5.0	0.9	2.6	20.8
Emisison from destruction	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Actual emission	9.1	9.1	5.7	0.9	1.0	0.7
GWP contribution, 1 000 tonnes CO2 equivalents	11.8	11.8	7.4	3.1	3.4	2.2

Total emissions of HFC-134a and HFC-404a refrigerants from refrigerators/freezers in 2007 were estimated to 14 909 tonnes CO₂ equivalents. In the future scenario of actual emissions, it is estimated that the total emission in 2010 is 15 200 tonnes CO₂ equivalents coursed by an increasing stock.

Mobile A/C

Emissions from mobile A/C systems are mainly due to leakage and accident damage.

The calculation has been adjusted for imports and re-exports of HFC-134a, which is the only HFC imported in A/C systems in cars, vans and trucks. In Denmark, the consumption of HFC-134a for mobile A/C systems is used solely for refilling. Initial filling is carried out by car manufacturers in the country of production.

The assumptions used in the calculation of emission and stock in mobile A/C systems appear from Table 4.4. The assumptions have been adjusted according to individual statistical categories for types of transport and they represent estimated values based on information from car importers and refrigerator service enterprises /16/.

Table 4.4 Parameters used in the calculation of stock in mobile A/C systems, 2007

	Percentage of vehicles with A/C, %	Filling pr vehicle kg HFC-134a	Percentage of vehicles that undergo A/C maintenance, %
Cars	10	0.75	50
Busses	20	9	20
Vans	10	0.8	50
Trucks	50	1.5	40

Table 4.5 shows a projection of the calculated actual emissions from mobile A/C systems and the parameters associated with the calculation.

Table 4.5 Parameters and calculated actual emissions of HFC-134a from mobile A/C systems in 2007, 2010 and 2015, tonnes

	2007	2010	2015
Imports via automobiles	5.0	5.0	5.0
Consumption to refilling	35.2	38.2	43.2
Total stock increase	40.2	43.2	48.2
Emissions from filling	1.6	1.7	1.9
Emissions from stock	67.1	69.8	72.8
Stock	228.6	234.6	244.6
Actual emissions	68.7	71.5	74.7
GWP contribution, 1000 tonnes CO₂ equivalents	89.3	92.9	97.1

Within the next five years, emission from mobile A/C is assumed to be the application area with the largest emission of HFC-134a in Denmark.

Vans and lorries with transport refrigeration system

There are an estimated 5 500-6 000 refrigerated vans and lorries in Denmark /16/. These require an average filling of about 8 kg, equivalent to approx. 46-49 tonnes refrigerants (HFC-134a, HFC-404a or HCFC-22).

Actual emissions from mobile refrigeration systems in vans and lorries in 2007 are stated in the Table 4.6.

Table 4.6 Calculation parameters and actual emissions of HFC-134a and HFC-404a from vans and lorries with transport refrigeration system for 2007,2010 and 2015 tonnes.

	HFC-134a				HFC-404a
	2007	2010	2015	2007	2010	2015
Consumption	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.8	0.8	0.8
Emissions from filling	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Contribution to stock	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.8	0.8	0.8
Emissions from Stock	0.9	0.7	0.5	5.8	3.7	1.9
Stock	4.6	3.6	2.8	29.2	18.7	10.2
Actual emissions	0.9	0.7	0.5	5.9	3.7	2.0
GWP contribution, 1000 tonnes CO2 equivalents	1.2	0.9	0.7	19.1	12.1	6.4

There has been no consumption of HFC-402a for refrigerated vans and lorries since this substance has been banned for use in both new and old installations. But the emission from stock is still about 0.2 tonnes HFC-402a, corresponding to 350 tonnes CO₂ equivalents.

The total actual emissions from mobile refrigeration systems in vans and lorries were approx. 20 583 tonnes CO₂ equivalents in 2007 which is a decrease compared to 2006.

4.1.2 Emissions of HFCs from PUR foam products and propellants

Tree calculation principles have been applied in the calculation of emissions of HFCs used in Polyurethan (PUR) foam plastic products, depending on the type of product:

Hard PUR foam plastics (closed cell)
Soft PUR foam plastics (open cell)
Polyether foam (closed cell)

The calculation principles are summerized in table 4.7 below and in appendix four.

Table 4.7 Emission factors in the calculation of emissions from foam plastic products

	Hard PUR foam	Soft PUR foam	Polyether foam
Release during production, %	10	100	15
Annual loss, %	4.5	-	4.5
Lifetime, years	15	-	1-10

Insulation foam

There is no longer production of HFC based hard PUR insulation foam in Denmark. This production has been banned in statutory order since 1. January 2006.

The import of HFC-134a in products with PUR insulation foam, e.g. household fridges and freezers, is considered to 0 in 2007. This assumption is difficult to verify and no applicable method seems available.

The calculation of actual emissions are therefore only from existing stock of household fridges and freezers.

Actual emissions of HFC-134a from insulating foam are summarised in Table 4.8.

Table 4.8 Calculation parameters and emissions of HFC-134a from insulating foam for 2007, 2010 and 2015, tonnes

	2007	2010	2015
Consumption, HFC 134a	0.0	0.0	0.0
Emission from production	0.0	0.0	0.0
Export	0.0	0.0	0.0
Stock	1069.7	757.5	159.1
Emission from stock	78.2	66.7	17.9
Aktuel emission	78.2	66.7	17.9
GWP-contribution, 1000 tonnes CO2 – equivalents	101.6	86.7	23.2

In the projection scenario for 2010 and 2015, it is estimated that the stock will be reduced significantly in 2015 as a result of the phase-out of HFC-134a as blowing agent and from 2018 it is estimated that there will be no more actual emissions from this source.

Soft foam/aerosol sprays

Emissions of HFCs from soft foam (open cell foam) is estimated as 100 per cent of the consumption in the year of application /4/. Emissions from soft foam occur during production and it is therefore not relevant to adjust for imports/exports.

The emission of HFC as a propellant in aerosol sprays is as for soft foam equal to the consumption of HFC-based aerosol sprays, after calculation of imports and exports.

Total emissions from these two areas amount in 2007 to 12.5 tonnes of HFC-134a and 11.6 tonnes of HFC-152a, corresponding to 11 302 tonnes CO₂ equivalents. Compared with 2006, emission estimates have decreased by approx. 8 700 tonnes CO₂ equivalents because of a significant reduction in use of HFC-134a in soft foam blowing but also due to a reduction in emissions from aerosols.

Medical products

The emissions from medical products are judged as marginal and have not been calculated.

Optical fibre production

Optical fibre production constitutes a new sector for F-gas emissions. Both HFC and PFC are used for technical purposes in Danish optics fibre production.

HFC-23 is used as a protection and cleaning gas in the production process. The emission factor is therefore determined as 100 per cent release during production. The actual emission from HFC-23 is 2 800 tonnes CO₂ equivalents in 2007. This sector will probably continue increasing during the coming years.

4.1.3 Emissions of sulphur hexafluoride

The total emission of SF₆ in 2007 has been calculated to 1.3 tonnes, equivalent to a GWP contribution of 30 347 tonnes CO₂ equivalents.

Emissions derive from three sources - power switches, double-glazed windows and laboratories.

Double-glazed windows

Use of SF₆ in double-glazed windows was phased out in 2002, however, there are still emissions from stock in existing double-glazed windows in Danish buildings. The stock is estimated from consumption data from Danish producers of double-glazed windows 1992-2002 and life time for double-glazed windows are determined to 20 years.

Emissions from double glazed windows are calculated on following factors:

15 per cent emission from production
1 per cent gradual emission from stock pr. year
65 per cent emission when disposal after 20 years

Table 4.9 Calculation parameters and emissions of SF₆ from double-glazed windows for 2007, 2010 and 2015, tonnes

	2007	2010	2015
Consumption	0.0	0.0	0.0
Emissions from production	0.0	0.0	0.0
Release from fitted double-glazed windows	0.4	0.4	0.2
Exports	0.0	0.0	0.0
Disposal emissions	0.0	0.0	3.7
Stock	37.6	36.4	18.4
Actual emissions	0.4	0.4	4.0
GWP contribution, 1000 tonnes CO₂equivalents	9.1	8.8	94.5

SF₆ emissions from existing double-glazed windows will increase in the coming years because of end of life and disposal of old windows containing SF₆. The future scenario for GWP contribution from double-glazed windows in 2015 shows an increase to 94.5 ktonnes CO₂ equivalents to be compared with 9.1 ktonnes CO₂ equivalents in 2007.

Power switches in high-voltage transmission stations

Power switches are filled or refilled with SF₆, either for new installation or during service and repair. Filling is usually carried out on new installations and a smaller proportion of the consumption of SF₆ is due to refilling /11/.

Emissions from power switches in high-voltage transmission systems are calculated due to the processes involved in the following way:

release of 5 per cent on filling with new gas (average figure covering normal operation and failure/accidents)
gradual release of 0.5 per cent from the stock (average figure covering normal operation and failure/accidents)
release of 5 per cent from drawing off and recycling used gas (average figure covering normal operation and failure/accidents)

These figures are determined in a report of Danish SF₆ use in high-voltage power switches /11/.

No emissions are assumed to result from disposal since the used SF₆ is drawn off from the power switches and is either re-used internally by the company concerned, or re-used externally through means of a collection scheme. Emissions resulting from external re-use are determined on the assumption that 0.5 per cent of the annual stock is sent for external re-use.

Table 4.10 shows the amounts involved in the processes leading to emissions and calculated actual emissions from SF₆ power switches.

Table 4.10 Calculation parameters and emissions of SF₆ from power switches in high-voltage plants 2007, 2010, and 2015, tonnes

	2007	2010	2015
Consumption	5.1	3.0	3.0
Service emissions	0.3	0.2	0.2
Recycling/recovery emissions	0.0	0.0	0.0
Emissions from stock	0.4	0.4	0.5
Stock	75.5	82.8	94.7
Actual emissions	0.6	0.6	0.6
GWP contribution, 1000 tonnes of CO₂equivalents	15.1	13.7	15.1

Laboratory purposes

Consumption of SF₆ in laboratories covers two purposes:

Plasma erosion in connection with the manufacture of microchips in clean-room laboratories
Analysis purposes to a limited extend.

The emission is calculated to 0.3 tonnes SF₆ in 2007 and it was primary for plasma erosion purpose. The emission is 100% release during consumption and equivilizes 6 214 tonnes CO₂ equivalents.

4.1.4 Emissions of per fluorinated hydrocarbons

Commercial refrigerators

The PFC emissions from commercial refrigerators occur from stock and from a smaller use of PFC-14 (R413a which contain 9% perfluorinated hydrocarbons). The actual GWP-weighted emission from this source is 10 537 tonnes CO₂ equivalents, which is a further reduction compared to the last four years.

Stock in commercial refrigerators has been estimated at about 12.9 tonnes in 2007 and trend is going toward phasing out units using HFC blends with PFC refrigerants.

The emission calculations use the same parameters as described for HFC emissions from commercial refrigerators (see appendix 3). Refrigerants containing PFC are only used in stationary refrigerators. Therefore no estimates for imports and exports are relevant.

Table 4.11 Calculation parameters and emissions of PFCs from commercial refrigerators in 2007, 2010 and 2015, tonnes

	2007	2010	2015
Consumption	0.1	0.1	0.1
Emission at filling	0.0	0.0	0.0
Emission from stock	1.5	1.0	0.6
Stock	12.9	9.2	5.7
Actual emission	1.5	1.0	0.6
GWP-contribution, 1000 tons CO2 equivalents	10.5	7.1	4.4

Optical fibre production

The PFC emission from optics fibre production has increased in 2007. This sector use PFC-14 and PFC-318 for technical purpose in optics fibre production.

The PFCs are used as a protection and cleaning gas in the production process. The emission factor is therefore determined as 100 per cent release during production. The actual emission from PFC-14 and PFC-318 is estimated to 4 825 tonnes CO₂ equivalents in 2007 and it is assumed that this sector will increase during the coming years.