EU report on barriers to using climate-friendly technologies

The EU has published a report on barriers posed by codes, standards and legislation to using climate-friendly technologies.  The report aims to highlight what might get in the way of the adoption of new technology and refrigerants in the future. 

The report notes "While safety levels should be maintained and risks minimised, standards, codes and legislation should be adapted to technological progress and, in the context of a phase-down of HFCs and the Paris Agreement, allow the use of more climate-friendly alternatives where it is safe to do so."

The report points towards a need for:

• European standardisation organisations to facilitate the update of relevant standards at the European level. All stakeholders involved including industry and Member States are also strongly encouraged to contribute, including to parallel activities at the international level.
• Companies and researchers to collect data and evidence enabling better risk minimization approaches for all flammable refrigerants and to make such information available to the relevant standard committees
• Member States that have restrictive national codes, standards or legislation to consider a review in the light of technical developments that would allow the safe use of alternative refrigerants.  In addition, the Commission envisages the following actions:
• A request to the European standardisation organisations in support of updating relevant standards at the European level, ensuring a technology neutral and consistent approach. In particular, there is a need to maximise charge sizes without compromising safety as well as allowing a more general use of risk management approaches for all refrigerants. A mandate for this request is under preparation
• Facilitating at an international level an exchange of information on standards, their review and related processes between Parties to the Montreal Protocol, standardisation bodies, industry as well as other stakeholders involved in standard setting.

Read the full report at
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52016DC0749&from=EN

04-01-2017