Report on strategic options for retrofitting of mobile air conditioners and chillers
159 The Committee thanked the Secretariat for the excellent work it had accomplished in improving the interim document and adopted the following recommendations:
Mobile Air Conditioners (MAC)
(i) It is recommended that Article 5 countries be encouraged to pursue a more aggressive recycling and reclamation programme in the MAC sector, and to convert their CFC-12 MAC production plants to HFC-134a technology for new vehicles. Implementing agencies should be requested to intensify their efforts in the implementation of investment projects and technical assistance activities already approved by the Executive Committee and to prepare new investment projects in those areas.
(ii) It is recommended that Article 5 countries be encouraged to develop and adopt regulatory measures for better containment and recycling and conversion of MAC manufacturing to HFC-134a technology. Implementing agencies should provide the necessary assistance in transferring the available knowledge and experience for this particular area within their technical assistance activities.
(iii) It is recommended that approval of projects in MAC retrofitting be delayed until the retrofitting technology is proven cost-effective and is adequately mature to be transferred to Article 5 countries. The Executive Committee may wish to request the Secretariat to follow closely the progress in the development of retrofitting technology in the developed countries and to report to the Executive Committee on the state-of-the-art situation.
(iv) It is recommended that the Executive Committee should encourage Article 5 countries to adopt necessary measures to regulate import of vehicles with CFC‑12 based MACs.
160. The Committee further recommended that in countries where specific data were not available, appropriate pilot studies should be supported by the Fund when presented to facilitate making a cost-effective choice. Such studies should only be undertaken if they were cost‑effective.
Chillers
(i) It is recommended that consideration be given to the Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) in selecting alternative technology in the chiller sector, which would include both direct effects (refrigerant global warming potential) and indirect effects (system energy efficiency), and to human health and safety aspects.
(ii) It is recommended that the Executive Committee approves refrigerant containment and better operation and maintenance practices, including recovery/recycling/reclamation as a strategic option in ODS phase-out in the chiller sector in Article 5 countries. Article 5 countries should be encouraged to pursue a more aggressive refrigerant containment programme, including recovery/recycling/reclamation. The implementing agencies should be requested to intensify their efforts in formulation of new investment projects in this area.
(iii) It is recommended that the Executive Committee approves conversion of CFC‑based chiller manufacturing facilities as a strategic option of ODS phase-out in the chiller sector. The implementing agencies should be requested to increase their activities in identifying and preparing project proposals in this area.
(iv) It is recommended that the Executive Committee approves the replacement of CFC chillers as a first priority of strategic options in ODS phase-out in the chiller sector. Implementing agencies should be requested to focus their activities on the replacement options in addressing ODS phase-out in the chiller sector. Energy savings should be taken into consideration when calculating the incremental costs of replacement.
(v) It is recommended that the Executive Committee defer consideration of projects to retrofit chillers, except in special cases and when definite substitutes are used.
(vi) It is recommended that the Executive Committee encourages the governments in Article 5 countries to give full consideration to appropriate regulatory and legislative action facilitating the implementation of CFC phase-out projects in the chiller sector. These should include an immediate cessation in the installation of new CFC chillers.