HCFC Phase-out Management Plans (HPMPs)-II

In the light of the Indian Government’s recent step to launch the 2^nd phase of the program HCFC Phase-out Management Plans (HPMPs)-II on 6^th March 2017 to eliminate hydrochloroflurocarbons (HCFCs), let us examine how improved infrastructure and increased knowledge of efficiency metrics can help in this process. The ultimate goal that has been set is to end the usage of harmful Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS) by switching over to non-ozone depleting substances with technologies that has lower contribution to global warming.

What is HCFC? What effect does it have on the environment?

• HCFCs are large groups of compounds, which are structurally very close to chloroflurocarbons (CFCs), but include one or more hydrogen atoms.
• Under normal circumstances, HCFCs are gases or liquid which easily evaporates and are generally stable and un-reactive.
• Since the use of CFCs has been phased out HCFCs are mostly used as refrigerants (in refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioning machines) and in insulating foams. Usage of HCFCs has been phased out in many countries and in UK it has banned in 2001. Their general usage is also being phased out all over the world.
• Inhalation of air containing HCFCs can lead to chest tightness, irritation in respiratory tract or breathing difficulties. Exposure to HCFCs in high levels may affect the nervous system, heart, liver and kidney.

The Plan

The whole program for India is meant for the 2017-23 period, by the end of which the Government aims to end the consumption and manufacturing of this ozone-depleting refrigerant by 2030.

More than 190 countries have signed an agreement in 1987 under the Montreal Protocol to phase out ODS in a timely way. Under this Protocol, India has been successful in phasing out older generations of refrigerants – CFCs and Halon and at present it is in the process of phasing out HCFCs.

A multilateral fund, which was set up under the Protocol, has already approved USD 44.1Mn for India’s HCFC program for 2017-23. The money from this fund will be used in helping industries to switch to better alternatives and train manpower to do so. Over 400 enterprises, which include over 300 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the foam manufacturing sector and 6 big air-conditioning system manufacturing firms, will be helped under this program. Domestic industries will however need to take help of their own R&D to find ways of eliminating HCFCs.

India is said to be equipped with a robust mechanism with an Empowered Steering Committee for the implementation and monitoring of the program. The Committee will be assisted by the Technology and Finance Standing Committee and Standing Committee on Monitoring that will be giving advices for the policy making of the program. The Committees will play an utmost important role as India is the 2^nd largest producer and consumer of HCFCs.

The HPMP-II program aims at promoting efficiency of energy, development of cold chain with non-HCFC alternatives along with the development of new standards for non-Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) and low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternatives in the course of phasing out HCFCs.

Measures that are needed to be undertaken for the success of this program

• Active participation of the State Governments is required along with full-cooperation which will help in enacting and implementation of new building codes and purchase regulations that are currently being contemplated.
• Research and development of newer chemicals and refrigerants, which has lower contribution to global warming and possesses greater energy reduction capacity needs to be undertaken.
• Thorough training sessions for service technicians must be conducted so as to update them with the newer technologies that will help in changing the nature of refrigerants used in the repairs and replacement services.
• Audit of public buildings must be conducted by the Central Government so as to determine their design suitability, as many parameters of climate control depends on things like insulation, green roofing and the nature of the materials used while construction. The Central Government can take idea from Paris to make all major buildings include solar paneling or proper green cover.
• Leakage of HCFCs must be avoided to a great extent by regular servicing as most of release of HCFCs occurs due to leakage from the machines.
• Effective disposal of the old appliances must be done in a well-planned manner as this can bring about a big change. Every person involved in manufacturing, usage and disposal should be held as equal stakeholders.
• Awareness programs can be conducted to make people aware of the harmful effects of substances like HCFCs. People are well-acquainted with terms like “greenhouse effect” and “global warming” but majority of the people have no idea about the intricate details of these dangerous components used in refrigerators or air-conditioning systems.

Challenges of this program

• Financial inconvenience – as the usage of refrigerators and air conditioning systems has increased substantially over the last few decades, phasing out HCFCs will become financially inconvenient.
• Lack of alternatives – when CFCs was done away with, people were provided with HCFCs as an alternative. But while phasing out HCFCs no such alternative has come into the picture yet which might make this process rather challenging.
• High replacement costs – the existing centralized air-conditioning systems requires huge capital investments for replacement.

Conclusion

The proposal from the Environment Ministry to advice energy-efficient temperature limits for air-conditioning systems in public buildings sounds optimistic. The increased affordability o solar photovoltaic power and its gradual implementation at numerous scales is a clear win in this regard. But a lot of energy has gone in vain owing to poor infrastructure and lack of understanding of efficiency metrics.

India needs to perform well to successfully implement this program in order to continue with good records through initiatives like strong INDC commitments, high carbon tax, aggressive renewable energy targets, etc.

After completing the phasing out of HCFCs, the nation will need to move on to planning the phasing out of HFC as per the agreement reached by India along with 195 other countries in Kigali in 2016. India is required to bring down the usage of HFCs by around 85%by 2047 over the period of 2024-26 level.