中國(guó)減少含氟氣體的努力和前景（英文版）

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1.FluorinatedGreenhouseGasesas“SuperGreenhouseGases”

AccordingtotheWorldMeteorologicalOrganization(WMO),2023wasthewarmestyearonrecord,withglobalnear-surfaceaveragetemperaturesabout1.45(±0.12)°Cabovepre-industriallevels—dangerouslyclosetotheParisAgreement’s1.5°Climit.1Asclimatechangeworsens,moreambitionisurgentlyneeded.

Fluorinatedgreenhousegases(F-Gases)regulatedbytheKyotoProtocolincludehydrofluorocarbons(HFCs),perfluorocarbons(PFCs),sulfurhexafluoride(SF6),andnitrogentrifluoride(NF3).2Despitemakinguponly3%oftotalemissions,3thesegaseshaveamuchhigherGlobalWarmingPotential(GWP)(Fig.1).Forinstance,SF6hasagreenhouseeffectupto25,200timesstrongerthanCO2overa100-yearperiod,makingitoneofthemostpowerfulgreenhousegases(GHGs)(Table1).AccordingtotheIPCCSynthesisReport,F-Gaseshavecontributedaround0.1°Ctohistoricalglobalwarming,whilecarbondioxide,themainGHG,hasaccountedfora0.8°Criseintemperatures.4.

Figure1GlobalshareofGHGsemissions(2023)Table1GWPvaluesforF-Gases(CO2GWP100=1)

Gas

LifeCycle（Years）

GWP100

HFC-23

228

14600

HFC-32

5.4

771

HFC-125

30

3740

HFC-134a

14

1530

PFC-14

50000

7380

PFC-116

10000

12400

SF6

3200

25200

NF3

569

17400

Source:UNEP,EmissionsGapReport2024Source：IPCC,AR6Report

1WorldMeteorologicalAssociation.(2024).Stateoftheglobalclimate2023.

2Nitrogentrifluoride(NF3)wasnotcoveredbytheKyotoProtocoladoptedin1997;however,theKyotoProtocol<DohaAmendment>,whichcameintoeffectonDecember31,2020,broughtNF3undercontrol.China'smostrecentnationalGHGinventoryisfor2018dataandhasnotyetincludedNF3.

3UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme.(2024).EmissionsGapReport2024.

4IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange.(2023).ClimateChange2023:SynthesisReport.

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2.F-GasesEmissionsStatusandTrends

2.1GlobalEmissionsofF-Gases

TheemissionsofHFCs,PFCs,SF6,andNF3primarilystemfromhumanactivitiessuchasleaksandventingduringtheirproduction,storage,transportation,anduse.Theseemissionsareassociatedwithvariousindustries,includingrefrigeration,electronics,electricpower,metallurgy,andchemicals(Table2).5

Table2MainSourcesofF-GasesEmissions

HFCs

Leakageduringproduction,storage,transportationanduseofrefrigerants,blowingagents,fireextinguishingagents,medicalaerosols,etc.

PFCs

Aluminumproduction,semiconductormanufacturing,photovoltaicmanufacturing,etc.

SF6

Powerindustry,magnesiumsmelting,electronicsindustry,etc.

NF3

Semiconductormanufacturing,electronicsindustry,photovoltaicmanufacturing,etc.

Source:SummarybyiGDP

In2023,globalGHGsemissionstotaled57.1billiontonsofCO2equivalent(CO2e),withF-Gasesmakingupapproximately1.7billiontons,or3%.6Althoughtheyrepresentasmallfractionofthetotalemissions,theirgrowthrateisthehighestamongallGHGs.From1990to2019,F-Gasesemissionsincreasedby254%,7nearlyfourtimesthegrowthrateofCO2duringthesameperiod.In2023,whileglobalGHGsemissionsgrewby1.3%,F-Gasesemissionssurgedby4.2%.8

Figure2GlobalTrendsinAnthropogenicNon-CO2emissions(1990-2019)

Source:IPCC,AR6Report

5ResearchGrouponTechnologyDevelopmentforNon-CO2GreenhouseGasEmissionReduction.(2022).AssessmentandOutlookforNon-CO2GreenhouseGasEmissionReductionTechnologyDevelopment.

6UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme.(2024).EmissionsGapReport2024.

7

8

IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange.(2023).ClimateChange2023:SynthesisReport.Ibid.

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2.2F-GasesEmissionsinChina

In2018,Chinaemitted284milliontonsofCO2efromF-Gases(excludingNF3),whichrepresentedaboutaquarterofglobalF-Gasesemissionsand2.2%ofthecountry’stotalGHGsemissions.9HFCsmadeupmorethan66%ofthistotal,equaling189milliontonsofCO2e,whilePFCsandSF6contributed0.22millionand0.73milliontonsofCO2e,respectively.10

ThehighemissionsofHFCsinChinaarecloselytiedtothecountry’slargerefrigerationindustry.Chinaproducesover80%oftheworld’shouseholdairconditionersandmorethan60%oftherefrigerators,11withatotalof540millionairconditioningunitsinuse,placingthecountryattheforefrontglobally.12Currently,themostcommonlyusedrefrigerantsinthemarketareHFCs,thethird-generationrefrigerant.AccordingtoChina’sMinistryofEcologyandEnvironment,China’sproductionof11typesofHFCsaccountsforover80%oftheglobalHFCs.13ThemainsourceofPFCsemissionsinChinaiselectrolyticaluminumproduction,whileSF6emissionsareprimarilylinkedtothepowerindustry,withstudiesindicatingthatover95%ofChina’sSF6emissionsoriginatefromthissector.14

China’sF-Gasesemissionshaveseensignificantincreasesinrecentyears.Between2005and2018,F-Gasesemissionsgrewby127.2%(Figure3).Studiesshowthat,despitetheKigaliAmendmenttotheMontrealProtocolcallingtolimitHFCsproductionandconsumption,China’sF-Gasesemissionswillcontinuetoriserapidlyforsometimeduetotime-laggedemissioneffects.Projectionssuggestemissionscouldpeakataround620to730milliontonsofCO2einthe2030s,beforedecreasingtobelow500milliontonsby2050.15,16,17Additionally,withlimitedemissioncontrolmechanismsinplace,emissionsofSF6andPFCsstillhavepotentialtoincreaseand

9MinistryofEcologyandEnvironment,People'sRepublicofChina.(2023).People'sRepublicofChinaThirdBiennialUpdateReportonClimateChange.

10Ibid.

11NationalDevelopmentandReformCommissionofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.(2019).GreenandHigh-EfficiencyCoolingActionPlan.

12Shi,F.(2021).Chinahasatotalof540millionairconditioningunits.BeijingBusinessDaily.

/2021/0827/409021.shtml

.

13MinistryofEcologyandEnvironmentofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.(2024).NoticeonStrictControloftheSecondBatchofHydrofluorocarbonChemicalProductionandConstructionProjects(DraftforComments).

14Zhou,S.,Teng,F.,&Tong,Q.(2018).Mitigatingsulfurhexafluoride(SF6)emissionfromelectricalequipmentinChina.Sustainability,10(7),2402.

15Bai,F.,An,M.,Wu,J.,Fang,X.,Jiang,P.,Yao,B.,...&Hu,J.(2023).PathwayandCost-BenefitAnalysistoAchieveChina’sZeroHydrofluorocarbonEmissions.EnvironmentalScience&Technology,57(16),6474-6484.

16Teng,F.,Su,X.,&Wang,X.(2019).CanChinapeakitsnon-CO2GHGemissionsbefore2030byimplementingitsnationallydeterminedcontribution?EnvironmentalScience&Technology,53(21),12168-12176.

17InstituteofClimateChangeandSustainableDevelopment,TsinghuaUniversity.(2020).ComprehensiveReportonChina'sLong-termLow-CarbonDevelopmentStrategyandPathway.

mightevensurpassHFCsemissions,complicatingeffortstoreduceoverallF-Gasesemissions.18,19,20

ThestudiesaboveshowthatwhilereducingHFCsproductionandconsumptionaspertheKigaliAmendment,ifotherF-Gasesemissionreductionpoliciescanbecoordinated,itwillbeconducivetoachievingnear-zeroemissionsofF-GasesandsupportChina’scarbonneutralitygoal.

Figure3HistoricaltrendofF-Gasesemissions(MtCO2e)inChina

Source:China'sThirdBiennialUpdateReportonClimateChange

18iGDP.(2024).EnergyPolicySimulato

r.https://energypolicy.solutions/home/china-igdp/e

n.

19Song,R.(2019).OpportunitiestoadvancemitigationambitioninChina:Non-CO2greenhousegasemissions.InWorldResourcesInstituteWashington,DCWorkingPaper.

20Guo,L.,Yang,Y.,Fraser,P.J.,Velders,G.J.,Liu,Z.,Cui,D.,...&Fang,X.(2023).ProjectedincreasesinemissionsofhighglobalwarmingpotentialfluorinatedgasesinChina.CommunicationsEarth&Environment,4(1),205.

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3.ActionstoReduceF-GasesEmissions

3.1GlobalF-GasesEmissionReductionActions

Aroundtheworld,manycountriesandregionsareactivelyworkingtoreduceF-Gasesemissions.Sofar,160countrieshaveratifiedtheKigaliAmendment.21TheEuropeanUnionandJapanhaveimplementedrelativelystringentpoliciesandmanagementmeasurestocontrolF-Gasesemissions.

Table3EUandJapanF-GasesEmissionControlPolicies

PolicyContentSource

EuropeanUnion

?Marketbans:SetthetimetableofbanningproductsfromthemarketbasedonusageorGWPandachieveacompletephase-outofHFCsconsumptionby2050.

?Quotasystem:Onlyimportersandproducersthathaveexperienceintradingactivitiesofchemicalsforthreeconsecutiveyearspriortothequotaallocationperiodshallbeallowedtoreceiveaquotaallocation.

?ExtendedProducerResponsibilityscheme:Bytheendof2027,F-Gasesproducerswillfinancetherecovery,recycling,reclamationanddestructionofF-GasesinproductssubjecttoDirective2012/19/EU.

?Inaddition,theregulationstrengthenscontrolsinareasincludingimportandexport,datareporting,andleakage.

Regulation

2024/573ofthe

EuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncil22

?PFCsemissionsfromaluminiumproductionareincludedintheEuropeanUnionEmissionsTradingSystem(EUETS).23

EUETS

Japan

(Lifecyclemanagementofproduction,consumption,recycling,reclamation/destructionofF-Gases)

?Majorresponsibilitiesofstakeholders:1)ProducersshallreducetheproductionofF-Gasesandpromotetheuseoflow-GWPsubstances.2)Usersshallregularlycheckforleakages;Whenrecharging/recoveringgases,entrusttheregisteredenterprisestoconductrelevantoperations;Payforrecovery,transportation,recycling,anddestruction.3)Refrigerantrecycling/reclamation/destructionenterprisesmustberegisteredwiththegovernment.

?Reportingsystem:F-Gasesproducersorimportersshallreportshipmentsforeachfiscalyear;Usersshallreportleakages;Refrigerantrecycling/destructioncompaniesshallissuerecycling/recharge/destructioncertificatestorecordthedata.

(ThissystemprovidesclearmonitoringandstatisticsofdomesticrefrigerantinformationinJapan.)

?HomeApplianceRecyclingLaw

?ActonRecyclingofEnd-of-Life

Automobiles

?ActonRationalUseandProper

Managementof

Fluorocarbons24,25

Source:SummarybyiGDP

21

22

23

UnitedNations.(2016).AmendmenttotheMontrealProtocolonSubstancesthatDepletetheOzoneLayer.EuropeanUnion.(2024).Regulation(EU)2024/573oftheEuropeanParliamentandoftheCouncil.

EuropeanCommission.ScopeoftheEUETS.

24

25

MinistryoftheEnvironment,Japan.ActonRationalUseandProperManagementofFluorocarbons.

PANX.,HUJ.,LIC.&LINJ.(2022).EnlightenmentandreferenceofJapaneserefrigerantrecoverymanagementmodes.

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3.2China'sF-GasesEmissionReductionActions

ChinahasalsoimplementedseveralemissionreductionpoliciestargetingF-Gases,withaparticularfocusoncontrollingHFCsemissionsduetotheirsignificantshareintotalF-Gasesemissions.

Table4:China'sMajorPolicyActionstoPromoteF-GasesEmissionReductiongasemissions

StrategicPlanningforF-GasesEmissionReduction

Gases

PolicyContent

Source

Non-

CO2/F-Gases

?Controlsovermethaneandothernon-CO2GHGswillalsobestrengthened.

?ContinuetopushforHFC-23destruction,studyandformulatenitrousoxideemissionreductionplansforkeyindustries,promotelow-warming-potentialpowerfacilities,andstrengthentheemissioncontrolofHFC,nitrousoxide,andsulfurhexafluoride.

?Stepupthecontrolofkeynon-CO2GHGsemissions.Chinawillresearchandimplementanactionplantocontrolnon-CO2GHGsemissions;continuetoimprovethetechnicalsystemformonitoring,reportingandevaluationofnon-CO2GHGemissions;andgraduallyestablishasoundstatisticalaccountingsystem,policysystemandmanagementsystemfornon-CO2GHGs

emissions.

?Incorporategreenhousegascontrolsintoenvironmentalimpactassessmentmanagement.

?Strengthenthecontrolofnon-CO2GHGs,andstudyandformulategreenhousegasemissionstandardsforkeyindustries.

?WorkingGuidanceforCarbonDioxidePeakingandCarbonNeutralityinFullandFaithfulImplementationoftheNewDevelopmentPhilosophy

?China’sMid-CenturyLong-TermLowGreenhouseGasEmissionDevelopmentStrategy

?TheOutlineofthe14thFive-YearPlanforEconomicandSocialDevelopmentandLong-rangeObjectivesthroughtheYear2035ofthePeople’sRepublicofChina

?OpinionsoftheCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChinaandtheStateCouncilonFurtherPromotingtheNationwideBattletoPreventandControlPollution

?ImplementationGuideonPromotingtheSynergisticEfficiencyofReducingPollutionandCarbon

HFCs

?TofreezetheproductionanduseofHFCsatbaselinelevelsin2024.TheproductionanduseofHFCswillnotexceed90%ofthebaselinestartingfrom2029,70%from2035,50%from2040and20%from2045.

?TheKigaliAmendmenttotheMontrealProtocol

?ImplementtheKigaliAmendmenttotheMontrealProtocolonSubstancesthatDepletetheOzoneLayer,andstrictlyrequirealldifluoro-chloromethaneproductionenterprisestoharmlesslydisposeoftheirby-producttrifluoromethane.Increasetheresearchanddevelopmentoflow-carbonandenvironmentallyfriendlyalternativetechnologies.ActivelyadoptlowglobalwarmingpotentialalternativetechnologiesintheprocessofreplacingHCFCstoreduceemission;promotetherecovery,reuseandharmlesstreatmentofcontrolledsubstances,andsupportrelevantproductioncompaniestocreategreenfactoriesandstrictlycontrolleakageanddischargeofcontrolledsubstancesduringproduction.Priorityshouldbegiventotheimplementation

?China’sMid-CenturyLong-TermLowGreenhouseGasEmissionDevelopmentStrategy

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ofalternativeandemissionreductionHFCactionsinindustrieswherealternativetechnologiesarerelativelymature.

?Strengthenthemanagementofozone-depletingsubstancesandhydrofluorocarbons(HFCs),acceleratetheretrofittingofproductionlinesusinghydrochlorofluorocarbons(HCFCs),andphaseouttheuseofHCFCs.

?ImplementationGuideonPromotingtheSynergisticEfficiencyofReducingPollutionandCarbon

PoliciesforF-GasesEmissionReduction

Gases

Policydescription

Policysource

HFCs

(18HFCsareincorporatedundercontrol)

?Gradualreductionandeventualphase-outofOzoneDepletingSubstances(ODS)usedasrefrigerants,blowingagents,fireextinguishingagents,solvents,cleaningagents,processingaids,pesticides,aerosols,expandingagentsandotheruses.

?Implementtotalamountcontrolandquotamanagementfortheproduction,use,importandexportofODS.

?Encourageandsupportscientificresearch,technologydevelopment,promotionandapplicationofsubstitutesandsubstitutiontechnologiesforozone-depletingsubstances.

?RegulationsonAdministrationofOzoneDepletingSubstances

?ListofControlledOzoneDepletingSubstances

?AdministrativeMeasuresfortheImportandExportofOzoneDepletingSubstances

?ListofOzoneDepletingSubstancessubjecttoImportandExportControl

?NonewconstructionorexpansionofchemicalproductionfacilitiesforcontrolleduseofHFCsshallbepermitted.

?ChemicalproductionfacilitiesforcontrolleduseofHFCsthathavebeenbuiltandneedtobereconstructedorconstructedoff-siteshallnotincreaseHFCsproductioncapacity,northetypesofHFCsproductsforcontrolleduse.

?CircularonStrictlyControllingHFCChemicalProductionConstructionProjects

?By-productHFC-23fromtheproductionofHCFC-22orHFCsshallnotbedirectlyemitted.

?By-productHFC-23shouldbeeliminatedtotheextentpossibleusingdestructiontechnologiesapprovedbytheConferenceofthePartiestotheMontrealProtocolonSubstancesthatDepletetheOzoneLayer,exceptforfeedstockandcontrolleduses.

?NoticeonControlofBy-productTrifluoromethaneEmissions

?BaselinevalueofHFCsproductionis1,853milliontonsofCO2e,andthebaselinevalueofuseis905milliontonsCO2e(includingimportsof0.05milliontons)

?2024Hydrofluorocarbon(HFC)QuotaSettingandAllocationPlan

?Acceleratethephase-outofHCFCsrefrigerants,limitandcontrol

theuseofHFCs,strictlycontroltheleakageandemissionofrefrigerantsintheproductionprocess,andcarryoutrecovery,recyclingandharmlessdisposal.

?GreenandHigh-EfficiencyCoolingActionPlan

?ImplementationGuidefortheUpgradingandRecyclingofRefrigerationEquipment

?The14thFive-YearPlanforColdChainLogisticsDevelopment

SF6

?Startingfrom2023,110and220kVGISbusbarsanddisconnectorsofnewstationswillbefullypromotedwithmixedgasequipment,andcompanieswillstrivetorealize“zerogrowth”inthetotaluseofSF6gasin2028.

?RaiseannualSF6leakageratestandardto0.1%.

?(PlanfromStateGridCorporationofChina)NoticeonthePromotionandApplicationofMixedGasGISEquipment26

Source：SummarybyiGDP

4.OpportunitiesandChallengesforF-GasesEmissionReductioninChina

ReducingF-Gasesemissions,particularlyHFCs,willsupportChinainachievingitsdualcarbontargets.ThiseffortpresentsbothopportunitiesandchallengesatvariousstagesoftheF-Gaseslifecycle,fromdevelopingalternativesandimprovingproductionprocessestoenhancingpost-userecyclinganddisposal.

4.1OpportunitiesandChallengesforHFCsEmissionReduction

TheprimaryfocusforreducingHFCsemissionsliesintherefrigerationindustry.Developingenvironmentallyfriendlyalternativesandadvancingrefrigerantrecyclingtechnologiesarecrucialforloweringemissionsbeforerefrigerantsreachtheendoftheirlifecycle.

26Thisisacorporate-issuedplanratherthananationalpolicy.StateGridCorporationofChinaisoneofthemajorconsumersofSF6inChina.AccordingtotheChinaIndustryNews,asof2020,thetotalamountofSF6usedbyStateGridfor10-1000kVdistributionswitchgearandsubstationswitchgearequipmentwasapproximately31,786tons.

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R&Dandadoptionofenvironmentallyfriendlyrefrigerants:Developingandadoptinglow-GWPalternativestoHFCsisakeystrategyforreducingemissionsatthesource.Intherefrigerantindustry,alternativeslikehydrofluoroolefinrefrigerants(HFO,suchasHFO-1234yf),hydrocarbonrefrigerants(HC,likeHC-290),andcertainnaturalrefrigerants(likeR744,i.e.CO2),arepromisingoptions.However,thesealternativesoftenencounterchallengesrelatedtosafety,cost,orenergyefficiency.Forexample,R1234yfandR290areflammable,creatingsafetyrisksduringuse.27Additionally,R744requiresoperationunderhighpressure,whichnotonlydemandsspecializedpressure-resistantequipmentbutalsoraisescostsandsafetyconcerns.28

Chinaisstillintheprocessoftransitioningfromsecond-generationrefrigerants(HCFCs),whichdepletetheozonelayer,tothird-generationrefrigerants(HFCs).Ifcompaniescanleapfrogdirectlytofourth-generationrefrigerants,itcouldalleviatesomepressuretoreduceHFCsemissions.However,thispresentsasignificantchallenge,asChinafacesseriousintellectualpropertybarriersinHFOresearchanddevelopment,makingitincreasinglydifficulttoidentifynew,singleworkingsubstancesinthefuture.Currently,thereareover1,600HFOpatents,butChinesecompaniesholdonly14%ofthetotalandjust1.7%ofthecorepatents.29

27EijiHihara.ResearchProjectonRiskAssessmentofMildlyFlammableRefrigerants.

28Zhang,X.,Wang,F.,Fan,X.W.,Wei,X.L.,&Wang,F.K.(2013).Determinationoftheoptimumheatrejectionpressurein

transcriticalcyclesworkingwithR744/R290mixture.Appliedthermalengineering,54(1),176-184.

29ZHANG,J.R&Dprogressoflow-GWPrefrigerantsinChina.

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Column-DomesticPractices:MostofChina’sdomesticHFOsproductioncapacityiscontrolledbyforeignOEMsorSino-foreignjointventures.Forexample,ZhejiangJuhuaCo.,Ltd.produces4typesofHFOforHoneywell,whileSinochem-HoneywellJointVenturemanufacturesHFO-1233zd.30AlthoughsomedomesticenterpriseshavedevelopedHFOproductiontechnologieswithindependentintellectualpropertyrights,theoverallproductioncapacityremainslimited.Forexample,HuanxinfluorinematerialsCo.,LtdproducesHFO-1234fybyusingtrifluoroethyleneasrawmaterial,withanindustrialfacilitycapableofproducing3,000tonsannually.Additionally,theindustryisworkingtoovercomepatentbarriersthroughdevelopingcompoundworkingsubstances.Forexample,ZhejiangResearchInstituteofChemicalIndustryhasdevelopedacompositionofHFO-1234ze(E)/HFE-143a/HFC-32,whileZhejiangUniversitydevelopedHFO-1234fy/HFC-152a/HFC-134a,etc.31

Refrigerantrecyclingtechnology:Afterrecoveringtherefrigerant,reclamationtechnology-suchassimpleanddistillationreclamationtechnology-canbeselectedbasedonitspurity,whetheritisasingleorcompoundworkingsubstance,andotherrelevantcharacteristics.32Ingeneral,refrigerantrecyclinghelpsreduceemissions,easestheburdenofquotareductionsundertheMontrealProtocol,andlowersenvironmentalsafetyrisks.However,China'srefrigerantrecyclingandreuseisstillinitsearlystages,withrelativelyoutdatedtechnology.Accordingtostatistics,only40%and14%oftherefrigerantineveryairconditionerandrefrigerator,respectively,canberecoveredduringtherecyclingprocessinChina.33ThisrecoveryrateissignificantlylowercomparedtotheadvancedtechnologiesinEurope,theU.S.,andotherdevelopedcountries.Additionally,therecyclingcostcanreach40,000to100,000RMBperton,whichisquitehigh.

30SinoLinkSecuritiesResearchInstitute.Theprogressofexistingproductioncapacityofthefourthgeneration-refrigerantandtheprojectsunderconstruction.

31ditto

32Han,X.,Ye,G.Refrigerantrecoveryandreus

e./Annex/20230423140002731.p

df.

33SolidWasteandChemicalManagementTechnologyCenter,MinistryofEcologyandEnvironment.(2022).Refrigerant

RecoveryandReuseManagementofControlledSubstancesUnderMontrealProtocol.

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Column-DomesticPractices:TianjinAohongEnvironmentalProtectionMaterialsCo.,Ltd.isthelargestrefrigerantrecyclingenterpriseinChina,withitskeytechnicalperformanceindicatorsmeetingtheinternationaladvancedstandardsandofferingcostadvantages.In2020,thecompanyrecycled815tonsofrefrigerant,whichcontributedtoareductionofabout1.6milliontonsofCO2eemissions.In2021,over1,200tonsofrefrigerantwererecycled,leadingtoareductionofabout2.4milliontonsofCO2eemissions.

4.2OpportunitiesandChallengesforHFC-23EmissionReduction

HFC-23isaby-productoftheHCFC-22productionprocessandisdesignatedfordestructionundertheMontrealProtocol.TheProtocolhasapprovedeighttechnologiesforHFC-23destruction,withincinerationbeingthemostcommon.However,incinerationisenergy-intensiveandresultsinthelossoffluorineresources.Asaresult,Chinaisencouragingcompaniestoexploresolutions,suchasreducingtheby-productrateandimprovingresourceutilization.34

Improvingtheproductionprocess:Theby-productrateofHFC-23canbereducedbyextendingthecatalystservicelife,optimizingthereactionpressure,temperature,catalystconcentration,adjustingtherawmaterialsupplyratioandfeedingmethod.Currently,theby-productrateofHFC-23inmostenterprisesinChinaremainsaround2-3%,butithasthepotentialtobereducedtolessthan1%throughtheproductionprocessoptimization.35

34MinistryofEcologyandEnvironmentofthePeople'sRepublicofChina.(2021).Noticeonthecontrolofby-producttrifluoromethaneemissions.

35SolidWasteandChemicalManagementTechnologyCenter,MinistryofEcologyandEnvironment.(2022).RefrigerantRecoveryandReuseManagementofControlledSubstancesUnderMontrealProtocol.

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Resourceutilization:ThemosteconomicallyandsociallybeneficialmethodforutilizingHFC-23istoreactwithchloroform(CHCl3)andconvertitbacktoHCFC-22.Thisconversionprocessisefficient,safe,andcanachievenear-zeroemissionsofHFC-23.Additionally,thetechnologycanbeintegratedintotheexistingHCFC-22productionprocess,makingtheinvestmentcostrelativelylow.36,37

Column-DomesticPractices:ZhejiangResearchInstituteofChemicalIndustryandZhonghaoChenguangResearchInstitutehavedevelopedHFC-23conversiontechnologythatisfullyintegratedwithanHCFC-22productionunit.ThistechnologyofficiallybeganoperationinDecember2023.Withanannualconversioncapacityof15,000tonsofHFC-23,thistechnologyisexpectedtoreduceCO2eemissionsby220milliontonsperyear.38

36Ibid.

37Greenandlow-carboninnovationconference.(2024).2023Top10scientificandtechnologicalinnovationsforChina'scarbonpeakandcarbonneutrality.

38ChinaHaohuaChemicalGroup.(2024).Progressinthefirstsetofby-productHFC-23utilizationprojectinChina.

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4.3OpportunitiesandChallengesforSF6EmissionReduction

ReducingSF6emissionsinthepowerindustrycanalsobeachievedthroughusingalternativegasesandpromotingrecycling.

R&Dandadoptionofalternativesinpowerequipment:EmissionscanbereducedbyeitherusingamixtureofSF6withothergasesorcompletelysubstitutingSF6withalternativegases.StudieshaveshownthatwhenusingSF6gasmixtures,ifSF6accountsfor30%inSF6/N2mixtureatanairpressureof0.7MPa,theGWPcanbereducedbyapproximately50%.Intermsofcompletesubstitution,perfluoroisobutyronitrile(C4F7N)hasdemonstratedrelativelystrongperformance.39,40