FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brussels, 27th of February 2023: An alliance of 14 leading European associations and global partners active in the European market representing industries manufacturing, servicing and installing heating, cooling, refrigeration and foam insulation solutions call on the European Parliament’s Environment Committee to reject amendments which ban fluorinated gases, jeopardising the EU’s climate and energy security goals.
The Committee is scheduled to vote on 1st March on the F-Gas Regulation that aims to reduce emissions from hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and related fluorinated substances, which are used in many products, including heat pumps and foam insulation.
“Several of the Committee’s Amendments are simply impossible for industry to achieve,” said Russell Patten, Director General of the European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE). “The 14 co-signers of this letter whilst supporting the further phase down of HFCs, are gravely concerned that they will undermine Europe’s carbon neutrality goals and slow down the process of building decarbonisation.”
The letter notes that ENVI’s proposal will jeopardise the goals of REPowerEU and the EU Industrial Green Deal, and that compromise amendments 10, 11, 13, 14 and 21 to the F-gas regulation are particularly problematic. These amendments:
- Propose quota levels for HFCs that will not support the service needs of existing equipment or the roll-out of new energy-efficient heating and cooling equipment;
- Call for unfeasible bans on gases without sufficient consideration of safety, applicability, energy efficiency and cost;
- Disregard critical training and certification requirements for installation and service technicians, most from small businesses;
- Include quota plans that will disincentivise manufacturing within the EU; and
- Give the Commission permission to adapt changes to the regulation without goingthrough the full legislative process.
The associations call for a rejection of these amendments. Russell Patten comments that the Alliance “considers that Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy’s (ITRE) own Opinion, adopted in January 2023, strikes an ambitious yet pragmatic and realistic phase down solution given the availability, and forecast future deployment of the equipment containing non-fluorinated gas alternatives that many EPEE members manufacture and market.”
“We are committed to offering solutions that can mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions,” said Paolo Falcioni, Director General of APPLiA. “However, ENVI’s proposal leads to an unrealistically strict scenario leaving the market with no possibility to meet consumers’ demand for renewables and highly efficient cooling and heating technology.”
“We represent the industries that will deliver on decarbonising buildings through innovative heating, cooling and refrigeration solutions,” said Francesco Scudieri, Secretary General of Eurovent. “We are fully committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and look forward to working with Parliament to achieve our shared goals.”
“We urge MEPs of the ENVI Committee to take a realistic position enabling the deployment of heat pumps across the EU, recognizing the diversity in building tradition, safety standards and building codes,” said Thomas Nowak, Secretary General of the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA). “Heat pumps are at the core of the EU efforts for decarbonization of heating. A refrigerant regulation that does not sufficiently value the needs of the sector in providing decarbonised heating and cooling would jeopardise the EU climate neutrality objectives in favour of more polluting devices.”
“As components manufacturers for most of the technologies aiming to be used from Europe to decarbonise, ASERCOM’s members are already striving to provide solutions for the fastest transition to very low GWP solutions, but we need to do it by providing those in a steep but fluid and achievable industrial cycle,” said Marco Masini, ASERCOM President.
For further information, please contact secretariat@epeeglobal.org , Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 40 and visit our website (www.epeeglobal.org).
Agoria paves the way for all technology-inspired companies in Belgium that develop and market sustainable solutions to realise growth and progress worldwide, representing over 321,000 employees.
APPLiA – Home Appliance Europe represents home appliance manufacturers from across Europe. By promoting innovative, sustainable policies and solutions for EU homes, APPLiA has helped build the sector into an economic powerhouse, with an annual turnover of EUR 50 billion, investing over EUR 1.4 billion in R&D activities and creating nearly 1 million jobs.
AREA – the European association of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) contractors. Established in 1989, AREA voices the interests of 24 national associations from 21 countries representing 13,000 companies employing 110,000 people and with an annual turnover approaching € 23 billion.
ASERCOM, the Association of European Component Manufacturers is the platform for dealing with scientific and technical topics and their challenges, promoting standards for performance rating, methods of testing and product safety, focusing on improved environmental protection, serving the refrigeration and air conditioning industry and its customers. It is the aim of ASERCOM to be the platform for dealing with scientific and technical topics and their challenges, promoting standards for performance rating, methods of testing and product safety, focusing on improved environmental protection, serving the refrigeration and air conditioning industry and its customers. ASERCOM addresses top issues and communicates relevant opinions of its members to the industry, the public, governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations. https://www.asercom.org/
EPFA, the European Phenolic Foam Association includes companies that share an interest in the use of phenolic foam products within the insulation industry. The members are either producers of phenolic foam insulation resin suppliers or are companies closely linked with the industry through the provision of raw materials.
The European FluoroCarbons Technical Committee is a Cefic Sector Group that monitors legislation related to HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons), and HFOs (hydrofluoro-olefins) in the EU and at global level. Fluorocarbons are used as feedstock, as refrigerants, as solvents and as blowing agents for insulation plastic foams.
EHPA is the European Heat Pump Association. In a fully decarbonised Europe, heat-pump technologies are the number one heating and cooling solution, being a core enabler for a renewable, sustainable and smart energy system. They integrate multiple energy sources, bridging the electric and thermal sector on a local and regional level (micro grids, DHC). Heat pumps are easy to install and widely used in all thermal applications (buildings, transport, white goods) and industrial processes. Refrigerants and other components are available in sufficient quantities. The technology is recognised for its merits in legislation and existing energy models. EHPA is a forward-looking association aiming at putting heat pumps at the centre of the energy system by communicating the benefits of heat pumps, providing relevant information and being a reference point and integrator to all stakeholders.
EPEE represents the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump industry in Europe. Founded in the year 2000, EPEE’s membership is composed of over 50 companies as well as national and international associations from three continents (Europe, North America, Asia). With manufacturing sites and research and development facilities across the EU, which innovate for the global market, EPEE member companies realise a turnover of over 30 billion Euros, employ more than 200,000 people in Europe and also create indirect employment through a vast network of small and medium-sized enterprises such as contractors who install, service and maintain equipment. https://epeeglobal.org/
Eurovent is Europe’s Industry Association for Indoor Climate (HVAC), Process Cooling, and Food Cold Chain Technologies. Its members from throughout Europe represent more than 1.000 organisations, the majority small and medium-sized manufacturers. Based on objective and verifiable data, these account for a combined annual turnover of more than 30bn EUR, employing around 150.000 people within the association’s geographic area. This makes Eurovent one of the largest cross-regional industry committees of its kind. The organisation’s activities are based on highly valued democratic decision-making principles, ensuring a level playing field for the entire industry independent from organisation sizes or membership fees.
Founded in 1999, the Japan Business Council in Europe (JBCE) is a leading European organization representing the interests of about 100 multinational companies of Japanese parentage active in Europe. Our members operate across a wide range of sectors, including information and communication technology, electronics, chemicals, automotive, machinery, wholesale trade, precision instruments, pharmaceutical, textiles and glass products. For more information: https://www.jbce.org/
JRAIA is the industry association representing over 160 manufacturers of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment in Japan. We, the members of JRAIA, have so far been dedicated to offering quality products to the markets of EU. JRAIA aims to promote and improve production, distribution and consumption of refrigeration and air conditioning equipment and their applied products, as well as auxiliary devices and components, automatic controls and accessories and thereby contribute to the steady development of Japanese industry and the improvement in people’s standard of living. For more information, please see JRAIA’s website: www.jraia.or.jp Email: jraia- global@jraia.or.jp
PU Europe is the voice of European voice of the polyurethane (PUR / PIR) insulation industry, whose products are widely used in residential and commercial buildings with an estimated European market share of over 11%. There are more than 110 manufacturing sites in Europe accounting for more than 20,000 direct jobs.
SMEunited is the association of Crafts and SMEs in Europe with around 70 member organisations from over 30 European countries. It represents national cross-sectoral SME federations, European SME branch organisations and associate members. SMEunited is a recognised employers’ organisation and European Social Partner. www.SMEunited.eu | Twitter: @SMEunited
Established in 1955, Transfrigoroute International (TI) is the only specialist independent umbrella association for the temperature-controlled road transport industry at the European Union level. TI members include national associations representing the temperature- controlled sector, haulage companies involved with transport at controlled temperatures of foodstuffs and other goods in solid or liquid form, trailer manufacturers, manufacturers of refrigeration equipment and technical testing providers. TI membership is also open to companies providing technical assistance, insurance, damage assessment and legal services, and en-route support.
