Regulations to replace hydrofluorocarbons, used as refrigerants in air conditioners and refrigerators, with substances having lower greenhouse effects will be gradually implemented starting in 2027. The government has set a goal to reduce hydrofluorocarbon emissions by 20 million tons compared to the forecast of 61.2 million tons by 2035.
The Ministry of Environment announced a plan titled “Improvement Plan for Managing Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) for Greenhouse Gas Reduction” at an economic ministers meeting on the 18th.
Hydrofluorocarbons are synthetic substances developed as alternatives to chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which are ozone-depleting substances.
They are mainly used in refrigerants for refrigeration and freezing. They are also used as blowing agents in building insulation materials and as extinguishing agents in fire extinguishing equipment.
Hydrofluorocarbons have a high greenhouse effect and are identified as leading contributors to global warming. According to the Ministry of Environment, the global warming potential (GWP) of hydrofluorocarbons ranges from 138 to 12,400 times that of carbon dioxide. The GWP indicates the degree to which a substance contributes to global warming compared to carbon dioxide, meaning hydrofluorocarbons can cause up to 12,400 times the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide.
In response, the international community adopted the Kigali Amendment in 2016, which sets forth a schedule for reducing hydrofluorocarbons. South Korea is also required to start reductions in earnest this year to align with this schedule.
The government has planned to reduce hydrofluorocarbon emissions by 20 million tons compared to the forecast of 61.2 million tons by 2035.
According to the Ministry of Environment, the emission of hydrofluorocarbons was 29.4 million tons in 2021, and if the current trend continues, emissions are expected to rise to 61.2 million tons by 2035.
The key is to transition hydrofluorocarbons to substances with lower global warming potential.
The European Union (EU) and Japan have long implemented transition policies, but in South Korea, due to insufficient transition policies, substances that have been used out of habit continue to be used on-site.
In response, the Ministry of Environment has prepared material transition plans by product categories to use substances with less or no greenhouse effects compared to the currently used hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants in the manufacturing of air conditioners, refrigerators, and freezers.
Currently, the refrigerant R-134a with a global warming potential of 1,300 is used in household refrigerators, but from 2027, substances with a global warming potential of less than 150 should be used. For household refrigerators, this transition was prioritized considering that manufacturers are already using substances with lower global warming potential.
Clothes dryers, dehumidifiers, and clothing management devices must replace hydrofluorocarbons with substances with a global warming potential of less than 150 starting in 2028, water purifiers from 2029, and vending machines, showcases, condensing units, and refrigeration equipment from 2030.
In the case of water purifiers, although alternative substances with lower global warming potential exist, they have not been commercialized. Therefore, after a grace period, the application will begin in 2029. For industries such as industrial refrigeration and portable refrigeration, where alternative substance development is needed, a phased transition will be pursued from 2028 to 2032 by considering the technology development period.
A system to manage the lifecycle of refrigerant substances will also be supplemented. From 2027, manufacturers and maintenance companies of refrigerant-using equipment will be mandated to report refrigerant usage biannually for the management of refrigerant substances and their usage.
The use of recycled refrigerants will also be expanded. Instead of simply disposing of waste refrigerants from decommissioned equipment, a system will be established to recreate them into recycled refrigerants by removing pollutants and replacing new refrigerants.
Minister Kim Wan-seop of the Ministry of Environment said, “We will comprehensively pursue financial support and research and development to address on-site difficulties and ensure the orderly transition of refrigerant substances to those with lower greenhouse effects.”