Actions to Control Emissionof HFCs in Japan
Implementation of “the Act on Rational Useand Proper Management of Fluorocarbons”

Kazuhiro Sato
JRAIA (the Japan refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry Association)

20. Timeline“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan
Regulation
Published(OJ)

Implementing
Acts published

June2013

OctNov
2014
Nov. 2014:
MOP26
In Paris

Guideline
published

Dec.
2014

Dec. 2014:
COP20
In Lima, Peru

Entry intoforce

1st Apr.
2015

Dec. 2015:
COP21
In Paris

3

1. Direction of measures for HFCs in Japan“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in JapanIssues

Direction of measures

1. Rapid increase of HFCs emission
2. Low recovery rate : Approximately 30%

Comprehensive measures over whole life cycle fromproduction to destruction of CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs
Needed.

1. Manufacturers and Importers of HFCs
Phase-down of HFCs

3. Leakage in use of equipment :13 to 17% per year in 2009

2. Manufacturers and Importers of Equipment

4. Development and commercialiseequipment with low GWP or no HFC
refrigerants

3. Owners of Equipment

5. Global movements to enhance control ofhigh GWP

4. Refrigerant charge by registered operators,
Reclamation by approved operators

Acceleration of equipment using low GWP or no
HFC refrigerants

Prevention of HFCs’ leakage from commercial
refrigeration equipment in use

Publication of the Revision of Fluorocarbons Recovery& Destruction Law in Jun 2013

41. Direction of measures for HFCs in Japan
300

60

250

50200

40

CFC
150

30100

20CFC, HCFC and HFC Consumption in Japan

2006

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

HFC
1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

010HCFC

2005

50

0Kt (weight)

70

JFMA published data

1989

Mt (CO2eq.)35051. Direction of measures for HFCs in Japan“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in JapanIssues

Direction of measures

1. Rapid increase of HFCs emission
2. Low recovery rate : Approximately 30%

Comprehensive measures over whole life cycle fromproduction to destruction of CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs
Needed.

1. Manufacturers and Importers of HFCs
Phase-down of HFCs

3. Leakage in use of equipment :13 to 17% per year in 2009

2. Manufacturers and Importers of Equipment

4. Development and commercialiseequipment with low GWP or no HFC
refrigerants

3. Owners of Equipment

5. Global movements to enhance control ofhigh GWP

4. Refrigerant charge by registered operators,
Reclamation by approved operators

Acceleration of equipment using low GWP or no
HFC refrigerants

Prevention of HFCs’ leakage from commercial
refrigeration equipment in use

Publication of the Revision of Fluorocarbons Recovery& Destruction Law in Jun 2013

6

1. Direction of measures for HFCs in Japan
Recovery under Conventional Laws
Recovered amount (metric-t)

8000
7000

EOL Auto HFC

6000

EOL Auto CFC

5000

Fridge Insulation
Fridge Ref EOL

4000

Residential AC EOL

3000

AC&R Repair2000

Other AC&R EOL

1000
02007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

• Significant amount has been recovered, but recovery ratio
is around 30%.

7

1. Direction of measures for HFCs in Japan“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in JapanIssues

Direction of measures

1. Rapid increase of HFCs emission
2. Low recovery rate : Approximately 30%

Comprehensive measures over whole life cycle fromproduction to destruction of CFCs/HCFCs/HFCsNeeded.

1. Manufacturers and Importers of HFCs
Phase-down of HFCs

3. Leakage in use of equipment :13 to 17% per year in 2009

2. Manufacturers and Importers of Equipment

4. Development and commercialised
equipment with low GWP or no HFC
refrigerants

3. Owners of Equipment

5. Global movements to enhance controlof high GWP

4. Refrigerant charge by registered operators,
Reclamation by approved operators

Acceleration of equipment using low GWP or no
HFC refrigerants

Prevention of HFCs’ leakage from commercial
refrigeration equipment in use

Publication of the Revision of Fluorocarbons Recovery& Destruction Law in Jun 2013

8

1. Direction of measures for HFCs in Japan“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan
IssuesDirection of measures

1. Rapid increase of HFCs emission
2. Low recovery rate : Approximately 30%

Comprehensive measures over whole life cycle fromproduction to destruction of CFCs/HCFCs/HFCs
Needed.

1. Manufacturers and Importers of HFCs
Phase-down of HFCs

3. Leakage in use of equipment :13 to 17% per year in 2009

2. Manufacturers and Importers of Equipment

4. Development and commercialised
equipment with low GWP or no HFC
refrigerants

3. Owners of Equipment

5. Global movements to enhance control ofhigh GWP4. Refrigerant charge by registered operators,
Reclamation by approved operators

Acceleration of equipment using low GWP or no
HFC refrigerants

Prevention of HFCs’ leakage from commercial
refrigeration equipment in use

Publication of the Revision of Fluorocarbons Recovery& Destruction Law in Jun 2013

9

2. Scope“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan10

2. Scope“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan
Expand Scope(1) HFCs Phase-down
Low GWP HFCs
Natural Refrigerant
HFCs

Manufacturers ofproducts containing HFCsRefrigerator

Insulators

Air conditioner

Dust blowers(3) Reduction of refrigerantleakage from commercial
equipment in use
PeriodicalReuse

Users ofproducts

check(5) Proper destruction
and recycle

Obligation ofdestruction(2) Promotion of lowGWP/non-fluorocarbons fordesignated products
Products withalternatives

Approved
destructors/recycle

Registeredfillers/recovery
operators

Report ofleakage

Maintenance(4) Proper refill andrecovery

11

Revised act for manufacturers and importers of equipment“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan

Specified Equipment
Specified equipment category
Residential air conditioners（excluding floor-standing type）

Air conditioners for shops and offices（excluding floor-standing type）<<small size only>>

Automotive air conditioners（only for passenger car）

Condensing units and Stationary
refrigeration units（rated output > 1.5kW）

Central refrigeration equipment（ only for new refrigeration warehouses more than 50thousands ㎥）

Hard urethane foam
Dust blower

Currently used refrigerant and its GWP

Target index ofenvironmental
impactTarget year

R410A(2090)
R32(675)

750

2018

R410A(2090)

750

2020

R134a(1430)

150

2023R404A(3920)
R410A(2090)
R407C(1774), CO2(1)

1500

2025

R404A(3920)
Ammonia100

2019

HFC-245fa(1030), HFC-365mfc(795)

100

2020

HFC-134a(1430), HFC-152a(124)
CO2(1), DME(1)102019※Manufacturers and importers shall ensure that the weighted average of GWP of domestic shipments does not exceed the target index
to reduce environmental impact of the specified equipment.

122. Scope“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan
Expand Scope(1) HFCs Phase-down
Low GWP HFCs
Natural Refrigerant
HFCs

Manufacturers ofproducts containing HFCs
Refrigerator

Insulators

Air conditioner

Dust blowers(3) Reduction of refrigerantleakage from commercial
equipment in use
PeriodicalReuse

Users ofproducts

check(5) Proper destruction
and recycle

Obligation ofdestruction(2) Promotion of lowGWP/non-fluorocarbons fordesignated products
Products withalternatives

Approved
destructors/recycle

Registeredfillers/recovery
operators

Report ofleakage

Maintenance(4) Proper refill andrecovery

13

Revised regulation for equipment owners (users of products)“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in JapanDetails of equipment check required for equipment owners

Simplified
periodicalcheck
All Class-1
specifiedequipment

Frequencyof check

Operator ofcheck（Air conditioners）
・Abnormal noise from air conditioner, apparent condition
check and so on to judge leakage of HFCs
（Refrigeration equipment）
・Temperature inside the cabinet
・Abnormal noise from equipment, apparent condition
check and so on to judge leakage of HFCs

More thanonce a3 months(voluntary)

No limitationon thequalification

Visual check by an operator
having professional knowledge

Periodicalcheck

Check points

In the case thatrough locationof leakage canbe found

The check shall be conductedwith direct method.

Other cases

The check shall be conductedwith indirect method orcombination of direct andindirect method.

More thanonce aperiod
determinedfor eachequipment

Authorised
certification
related toequipment
management
is needed.

14

2. Scope“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan
Expand Scope(1) HFCs Phase-down
Low GWP HFCs
Natural Refrigerant
HFCs

Manufacturers ofproducts containing HFCs
Refrigerator

Insulators

Air conditioner

Dust blowers(3) Reduction of refrigerantleakage from commercial
equipment in use
Periodical

Reuse

Users ofproducts

check(5) Proper destruction
and recycle

Obligation ofdestruction(2) Promotion of lowGWP/non-fluorocarbons fordesignated products
Products withalternatives

Approved
destructors/recycle

Registeredfillers/recovery
operators

Report ofleakage

Maintenance(4) Proper refill andrecovery

Expected reduction by new actions“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan(Mt-CO2)[Estimation on BAU base]
Actual shipment of HFC
Reduction of new products
Reduction of service usage
Reduction of service usage
Service usage
New products

Shipment of HFC
Prospect of usage40％
down52%
down

Prospectof usage
In 2020.

Prospectof usage
In 2025.

15

Requirements for the alternative refrigerants
3E+S
Safety(precondition)

・Low Toxicity
・Low Risk of Flammability

Environment
Performance・Ozone Depletion Potential =0
・Low Global Warming Potential

EnergyEfficient・Superior for LCCP value
・Similar performance at high load cooling

EconomicFeasibility

・Reasonable Cost
・Acceptable level in Developing Countries

LCCP（Life Cycle Climate Performance)
CO2 Emission origin from energy inproduct usage
CO2 Emission at refrigerant
production

Refrigerant Leaks
in product usage

CO2 Emission at refrigerant
destruction

Refrigerant Leaks at
product disposalRefrigerants for the next generation
HVAC&R industry has been proceeding with thedevelopment of next generation low GWP refrigerants tomitigate the impact of HFCs on global warming.
However ;・Ideal refrigerants have not been found yet.
・Every candidate of next generation refrigerants bears
some sort of faults.
・Usable candidates, in particular, are mildly flammable.
・We are forced to make full use of those candidates forprevention of global warming caused by refrigerants.

15“the Act on Rational Use and Proper Management of Fluorocarbons” in Japan

Thank you for your kind attention.