Page last updated : 15/05/2008

Hydrofluorocarbons - HFCs

Source : CITEPA / CORALIE SECTEN format - last revision 28 February 2008

Survey period : since 1990

Comments

In 2006, HFC emissions reached 13 121 kt CO₂ equivalent (CO₂e). They have sharply increased since 1990 (+259%, i.e. +9 464 kt CO₂e).

Only one sector did not contribute to the emissions in 2006 : LULUCF* whereas in 1990, only one sector contributed (manufacturing industry).

In the manufacturing industry sector, from 1990 to 1993, chemical industry was the main source of emissions caused by :

The reductions operated since 1992 by the installation of treatments allowed a first fall of the total emissions of HFCs in France until 1995.

There has been an upward trend in emissions since then. The main reasons are the substitution of CFCs by HFCs which impacts less on the destruction of the stratospheric ozone.

Refrigeration/air conditioning from road transport responsible for 23% of total emissions in 2006, rises sharply since 1993 after domestic and commercial refrigeration (around 2 300 kt CO₂e in 2006) which, associated with aerosol use (around 3 362 kt CO₂e in 2006) stands the residential/tertiary sector in first place with 44% of total emissions in 2006. At the same time, solvent use and evaporation process during the products filling have caused an increase of manufacturing industry emissions, in spite of emission reduction techniques introduced by chemical industry during the HFC synthesis.

From 2002, a new source of HFC emissions was identified : the use of HFCs in manufacturing industries as propulsing agents for polystyrene foam replacing HCFCs which are banned since they damage the ozone layer. HFC-365mfc are used since HCFC were banned in 2003, for polyurethane foam (PUR foam). It is emitting HFCs during the foam’s manufacture and its life time.

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