Food and beverage producers are facing challenges in complying with F-gas regulations, as indicated by recent findings from Aggreko.
F-gases, or fluorinated gases, are greenhouse gases commonly employed in various industrial applications, particularly in refrigeration systems. While they do not deplete the ozone layer, F-gases have a significantly high ‘Global Warming Potential’ (GWP), which can be as much as 22,800 times that of carbon dioxide. Their contribution to the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions was noted to be 1.83% in 2023.
These gases are categorized into four main types: hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), with HFCs making up approximately 90% of the total F-gases currently in use.
The regulation regarding F-gases introduces a phased reduction in the use of HFCs, implementing a cap on the total quantity available in the UK market for the first time, encompassing both domestic production and imports. However, the latest proposals aim to accelerate this process, going beyond the current target of a 79% reduction by 2030. The UK anticipates an almost complete phase-out of HFCs by 2048, reaching a staggering 98.6% decrease from 2015 levels, with changes poised to take effect from 2027.
This shift presents significant challenges. Although there are no immediate plans for new product bans or adjustments to requirements for leak detection and recovery, the rapid timeline will heavily impact the availability of refrigerants—especially those with a GWP exceeding 1000. Consequently, the shift to low-GWP alternatives becomes essential for future implementations.
Research conducted by Aggreko, involving 334 manufacturing plant managers overseeing cooling operations at firms with revenues exceeding £50 million, revealed that a substantial 94% of UK manufacturers anticipate F-gas regulations will considerably affect their capacity to maintain and upgrade cooling systems. The study pointed out that a lack of knowledge, limited alternatives, and the expense of new solutions are significant obstacles hindering compliance with the revised F-gas schedule.
Chris Smith, the head of temperature control at Aggreko UK, commented, “Manufacturers are facing an extremely challenging set of circumstances. On one hand, they’re working with ageing cooling equipment that is increasingly prone to failure, but on the other they’re being asked to meet increasingly rigorous environmental legislation.” He added, “It is crucial that this equipment is upgraded to meet these legislative requirements, and site managers need further support and information to implement these changes effectively.”
Smith further highlighted that Aggreko is cognizant of these hurdles. The firm commissioned a study titled Temperature Check, which delved into this frequently neglected aspect of production. It revealed that F-gas regulations are a critical topic as the compliance timeline enters a crucial phase, necessitating clearer guidance for site managers regarding equipment adherence.
These insights are part of a growing apprehension regarding sustainable production, with 97% of participants in the survey indicating struggles in updating cooling systems to satisfy stricter environmental standards.
In light of these challenges, Aggreko emphasizes the need for manufacturers to investigate alternative strategies for sourcing equipment that conform to environmental legislation while enhancing operational efficiency and minimizing unplanned interruptions. For instance, utilizing temporary cooling systems can offer manufacturers the opportunity to experiment with various equipment configurations without capital investment limitations, while also providing the agility to address seasonal fluctuations in production demands.
