Tussle over phasing out ozone-depleting gases

The Hindu , Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Correspondent : Meena Menon
If it is serious about phasing out ozone-depleting gases by 2030, India needs to evolve a clear stand against persisting with those that have global warming potential and evaluate environmentally-friendly technologies. This is easier said than done as both the Indian government and the industry are hesitant to make some hard choices.

The tussle is over the choice of technology and the phasing out of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol, an international treaty to protect the ozone layer. India wants to discuss the phasing out of HFC under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and not under the Montreal Protocol. This has several implications, not the least of them being that there will not be any binding benchmarks.

What goes against the UNFCCC is that it is not designed for a phase down of specific gases. Countries have the choice to decide, which gases they want to reduce, says Chandra Bhushan, of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).

From Monday, the 34th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer will be held in Paris. Last week, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) held a preparatory meeting of manufacturers chaired for the first time by the secretary and members of the industry had differences on whether hydrocarbons were a viable replacement in refrigeration and air-conditioning instead of HFCs or HydroFluoroolefins (HFOs).

HFC is a replacement for ozone-depleting substances like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). While CFCs and HCFCs are being phased out under the Montreal Protocol, HFCs, on the other hand, have zero ozone-depleting potential but high global warming potential, according to CSE, which is arguing for a direct transition from HCFCs to hydrocarbon based technology.

Patent issues

In India, Godrej has pioneered hydrocarbon technology in refrigerators and later air-conditioners and the company made a presentation to the Ministry. Dilip Rajadhyaksha, senior general manager of Godrej, told The Hindu that hydrocarbons were flammable but safeguards can be put in and the company has expertise since 15 years in this field. It opted for hydrocarbons under a pilot project funded by the GIZ, a German government agency, which funded and helped with the technology under which it carried out pilot manufacturing of air-conditioners using hydrocarbons (propane) from 2010. Before that, since 1999 it has made refrigerators using a blend of propane and isobutane.

“We have sold ten million fridges so far and over 60,000 air-conditioners, including ones with 1.5 ton capacity, and not a single incident of explosion has taken place,” he said.

Some other companies are also going in for hydrocarbon technology spurred by the tightened emission norms this year. Transitioning from HCFCs to HFCs is meaningless in the long run since HFCs have a high global warming index whereas hydrocarbons like propane are very low on the index.

While HFC technology has patent issues, which are not resolved, for instance only one company has the patent for HFC 32, hydrocarbon technology does not have patents and it can be developed commercially, Mr. Rajadhyaksha pointed out.

Resistance to hydrocarbons

According to Jitendra Bhambure, Executive Vice-President, R&D and Technology, Blue Star limited, representing the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Manufacturers Association (RAMA), HFCs were adopted by the developing countries and these refrigerants have higher global warming potential.

The Indian industry has started adopting HFCs as a part of phasing out HCFCs as per the Montreal Protocol, he added. However, he said while RAMA understands the need to address the issue of global warming, with no clear alternatives available it is difficult to work out a plan. Alternatives like HFO for air-conditioning application are under development but the timelines are not known, and they are classified as flammable. The technology is yet to be proven and commercial viability in not known. There will be intellectual property rights issues.

Mr. Bhambure said that hydrocarbons are classified as explosive and have a limitation on charge quantity, which makes them adaptable up to one ton. They cannot be adopted for higher tonnage systems. In India, 75 per cent of systems are 1.5 ton and above and thus hydrocarbons have limited scope. Flammability will be a big issue across the value chain from R&D to manufacturing, transportation, storage and in installation and service as the split systems are not sealed systems.

The most difficult will be the handling of flammable refrigerants by inadequately trained technicians across the country both in urban and rural areas.

He added that RAMA feels that it is not possible for the Indian air-conditioning and refrigeration industry to have any mandatory regulations unless there are alternatives available, which are technically proven, commercially viable, safe to use and matured as a technology.

Environmental groups oppose India’s stand

Mr. Bhushan says, “Our policy seems to be dictated by the US and the industry, which holds the patents.” He said why can’t the Indian industry make a one-time move from HCFC directly to hydrocarbons, which is economically sound and 20 per cent more energy efficient and does not have a high global warming potential. It is in India’s advantage to have its own technology. He said the industry says hydrocarbons are flammable but there is proof that companies are capable of overcoming this with safeguards.

 
SOURCE : http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/tussle-over-phasing-out-ozonedepleting-gases/article6212533.ece
 


Back to pevious page



The NetworkAbout Us  |  Our Partners  |  Concepts   
Resources :  Databases  |  Publications  |  Media Guide  |  Suggested Links
Happenings :  News  |  Events  |  Opinion Polls  |  Case Studies
Contact :  Guest Book  |  FAQs |  Email Us