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VIENNA, 19 August 2021 - Small propane (R290) split air conditioners from Chinese appliance giant Midea – the only room AC models to earn Germany’s highly demanding “Blue Angel” ecolabel – are now available on the European market. The first container of the All Easy Series R290 units has arrived at Midea’s German headquarters at Eschborn, near Frankfurt.

The Blue Angel certification, owned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and managed by the Federal Environmental Agency (UBA), is the oldest ecolabel in the world, established in 1978. It covers 120 product groups and about 12,000 products have received the label.

The stringent Blue Angel standard for split ACs was established in 2016. To qualify for a Blue Angel ecolabel, a split AC system must use refrigerants that are halogen-free (non-HFC), and have a global warming potential (GWP) below 10. Among other requirements, AC units must also be designed to be energy efficient, as well as easy to clean and service.

China is the global leader in the production of air-conditioning appliances, producing around 70% of the world’s room air conditioners. Midea, China’s largest exporter of air conditioners, has been working with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for over 10 years to transition away from using HCFC-22, an environmentally harmful refrigerant and, instead, manufacture products using propane (R-290), a natural substance.

In 2020, UNIDO presented Midea with an award for its outstanding contribution to environmental protection. The award certificate stated that UNIDO “would like to express its highest appreciation to Midea for its ongoing efforts to develop, manufacture and introduce to the market, residential air conditioners that meet the highest environmental standards.”

At the time, Ole Nielsen, Chief of UNIDO’s Montreal Protocol Division, said, “Midea’s initial project to develop, produce and distribute energy-efficient products with a very low GWP refrigerant is phasing out 13.2 tonnes of ozone-depleting potential and reducing 434,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions per year.”

Portable R290 air conditioners made by Midea have been on sale in Europe for some time but the arrival of Midea's All Easy Series R290 units is a game-changer. Split air conditioners, which are fixed in an external wall, are currently the most commonly used appliances for space cooling worldwide. The availability of Midea's R290 split air conditioners is set to shake up the European market, driving a transition that will help reduce both energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on the continent. 

The European Commission is expected to encourage the use of cost-effective, technically feasible, energy-efficient and reliable alternatives to fluorinated greenhouse gases with high global warming potential when it revises its Regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases (the F-gas Regulation) by the end of 2021.

The Cooling Emissions and Policy Synthesis Report, published by the UN Environment Programme and the International Energy Agency, showed that, globally, up to 460 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions could be cut over the next four decades by making air conditioners twice as efficient as they are now. By 2050, it would be possible to save the amount of electricity produced by all the coal-fired power stations in China and India in 2018, saving up to $2.9 trillion.

This action would make a significant contribution towards getting on track to limiting the overall global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, which is critical for minimizing the disastrous impacts of climate change. With global temperatures reaching record highs, providing cooling systems which are effective, sustainable and do not harm the environment is increasingly essential for everyday life.

 

For more information, contact:

Ole Nielsen, Chief of UNIDO’s Montreal Protocol Division

Email: o.nielsen@unido.org

LI Jonathan, Head of Overseas Product Planning Dept, RAC Division, Midea Group

Email: jonathan_li@midea.com.cn

 

 

VIENNA, 18 December 2020 - In the midst of the global pandemic, the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MLF) has successfully organized two intersessional approval processes to ensure continued funding for developing countries to meet their obligations under the Montreal Protocol.

 

In 2020, the MLF approved US$17.8m for project proposals submitted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In addition to the tranches of ongoing HCFC Phase-Out Management Plans (HPMPs), the MLF approved new stages of the HPMPs for 15 countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Botswana, Ecuador, Gambia, Guatemala, Honduras, Malawi, Montenegro, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Serbia, Turkmenistan, Uganda and Zambia. In December 2020, the MLF also approved UNIDO’s proposal for the first HPMP for Syria; until now the only remaining Article-5 country without an approved HPMP.

 

HPMPs are sector-wide programmes designed to help countries gradually reduce their use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which destroy the earth’s protective ozone layer and contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. Each HPMP is unique and the funding received from the MLF allows UNIDO to implement a wide range of activities in support of ozone protection and climate action.

 

Overall, the ambitious portfolio of projects approved by the MLF for implementation by UNIDO indicates that, while 2020 was a challenging year, there is still a strong commitment to safeguarding the environment on a global level and vast opportunities to build back better.

 

For more information, please contact:

Ole Nielsen

UNIDO Montreal Protocol Division

Email

VIENNA, 26 June 2020 – On World Refrigeration Day 2020, the Montreal Protocol Division of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in collaboration with the World Refrigeration Day Secretariat, organized an online webinar on the impact and importance of refrigeration. Experts representing National Ozone Units, governments and the private sector shared their views on the opportunities provided by the Kigali Amendment to strengthen institutions, drive policy changes and transfer technology in support of sustainable solutions in the refrigeration sector.

The session started out with an overview by Ole Nielsen, Chief of the Montreal Protocol Division who spoke about the three topics in refrigeration within the framework of the Kigali Amendment - energy efficiency, industry 4.0 and skills development. He further raised the point how the challenging times of the COVID19 pandemic also gave rise to new communication opportunities with UNIDO’s partners, and mentioned the level of demand for future webinars.

In his keynote speech by Stephen Gill, founder of the World Refrigeration Day and former president of the Institute of Refrigeration in the UK, spoke about the impact and importance of cooling. From this presentation, the audience learnt about the significant role that refrigeration industry and its technology play in modern life and society.  

Referencing UNIDO’s experience in industry, providing refrigeration equipment, energy management and systems optimization, Bettina Schreck, Industrial Development Officer at UNIDO, emphasized the value of accelerating the climate benefits of the Kigali Amendment. Introducing proper maintenance or servicing in energy management, as well as optimization systems for refrigeration, demonstrated the potential impact of energy savings for industry partners.

The audience also took part in an interactive poll to identify the most important barriers for implementing energy efficiency in refrigeration.

Joining the discussion, Adnan Atwa, Industrial Development Officer at UNIDO, and Klas Berglöf, CEO of ClimaCheck, introduced the main principles and challenges of inclusive and sustainable industrial development and innovation to facilitate the HFC phase-down. The audience learned about the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) in the refrigeration sector and were able to see practical applications from various installations worldwide.

The audience also heard about the obstacles and opportunities in skills development in the face of the Kigali Amendment. Ester Monroy, Project Coordinator at UNIDO, highlighted the importance of upgrading the technicians’ skills in order to improve and maintain energy efficiency.   

Finally, Ole Nielsen provided an outlook on future collaborations between the Montreal Protocol Division and its trusted partners, reflecting on previous activities and announcing next steps of action.

He was followed by Zeynep Gökcen Asan, who spoke on behalf of the National Ozone Unit Office in Turkey, and shared the country’s experiences and, in regard to the implementation of the Enabling Activities project, spoke about future steps towards the ratification of the Kigali Amendment at end of 2020.

More than 140 participants worldwide joined the webinar, sharing comments and questions. During the Q&A sessions between presentations, key questions focused on the implementation of HPMP-II, and enabling activities, as well as Kigali Amendment ratifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in regards to technical training for technicians to reduce the spread of indirect infectious diseases while servicing refrigeration and air-condition equipment.

For more information and presentations, please contact the Montreal Protocol Division

Email

VIENNA, 22 June 2020  - The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has launched its latest guidance document supporting domestic and commercial refrigeration manufacturers seeking to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project is funded by the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) and is supported by the International Copper Association (ICA).

 

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the study will be launched through a webinar which will present the outcomes of the project and provide insights into how to use the guidance document, analyze changes in manufacturing, evaluate technical and financial options for energy-efficient refrigeration equipment and calculate associated emission reductions. The webinar will be organized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

22 July 2020, 15:00-16:00 CEST

Click here free of charge to register.

Recordings will be available on ASHRAE Global Training Centre website following the webinar.

 

This new study sets out a methodology and tools for manufacturers to understand cost and net benefits for different energy-efficient refrigeration design options and the required manufacturing line upgrades.

 

The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted cold value chains which are critical for the distribution of foods and vaccines. The refrigeration and air conditioning sector is currently responsible for around 17% of global electricity consumption and, in some developing countries, even exceeds 40% of the national electricity demand. In order to reduce the impact on health and the environment, it is vital to improve the energy efficiency of the refrigeration systems and to adopt refrigerants that have zero or low climate impact.

As an implementing agency of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, UNIDO is supporting its Member States with the phase-out of the use of ozone-depleting and global warming substances in the cooling sector. The amendment to the Montreal Protocol in 2016 in Kigali, Rwanda, has led to the creation of the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program which aims to help increase energy efficiency of cooling in developing countries.

UNIDO’s K-CEP funded project, “Assessment of incremental capital and operating costs for improved EE in domestic, commercial and retail refrigeration”, looked at manufacturers in five countries and characterized them using a Manufacturer Development Index (MDI) which takes into account: manufacturer development capacity, manufacturer production volume, manufacturer proximity to and relationship with component's original equipment manufacturers (OEM), market maturity, and a country's energy efficiency score.

Manufacturers are now able to ascertain which changes to their offerings can be taken cost effectively.The simulation software, named Commercial Refrigeration Analysis (CERA)[1], gives visual modelling of the changes in components, the benefit in energy efficiency and the cost involved in promoting green design and thus keeping the product competitive in the long term. A record of the changes made, enable scenarios and costings to be formed into a “board room ready” style presentation.

“Many companies including those in Article 5 countries are missing suitable guidance and opportunities for knowledge transfer when trying to meet global climate goals. This guidance document introduces practical ways to calculate and cost the changes needed for their product and factory footprint to comply with both international agreements and national legislation,” said Fukuya Iino from UNIDO’s Department of Environment.

Lead author and presenter, Omar Abdelaziz, a member of ASHRAE, and Assistant Professor of Thermofluids at Egypt’s Zewail City of Science and Technology, highlighted that “the outcomes of the project provide insight into how to analyze changes in manufacturing, evaluate technical and financial options for energy efficient products and calculate associated emission reductions”.

 

He added, “We hope manufacturers and service providers that need help to change their products and factories in today’s competitive marketplace can rely on the project guidance document and consultants familiar with the work to improve products energy efficiency and reduce emissions.”

 

 

For more information about this press release or if you need assistance to register for the webinar please contact Nigel Cotton at nigel.cotton @ brentwoodtech.co.uk

 

[1]CERA is originally developed by the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory of the United States Department of Energy (DOE)

VIENNA, 13 March 2020 –The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of the Republic of Albania have agreed a comprehensive programmatic framework to achieve inclusive and sustainable industrial development over the next five years. The Country Programme (CP) for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) in Albania 2020-2024 includes around twenty project proposals in three priority areas: industrial competitiveness and market access; productive employment and entrepreneurship development; and sustainable energy for productive uses and environmental management.

 

The CP was signed by Permanent Representative of the Republic of Albania to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ambassador Igli Hasani and UNIDO’s Director General, LI Yong, at UNIDO Headquarters.

 

Permanent Representative Hasani welcomed the signing of the first Country Programme Framework as a step forward in the cooperation between the Albanian Government and UNIDO. He highlighted that the identified components are well aligned with the Albanian priorities in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and appreciated the fact that the CP is gender-mainstreamed. He reaffirmed the Albanian side will further develop technical cooperation with UNIDO in the framework of the new CP.

 

UNIDO’s Director General Li said, “The signed programme opens up new opportunities to be seized in support of ISID in Albania. Realization of a full-fledged resource-mobilization strategy and engagement with multilateral and bilateral donors are important prerequisites for its successful implementation. UNIDO, together with the Government of Albania will continue to work closely towards CP’s upscaling.”

 

UNIDO is currently implementing two technical cooperation projects in Albania to ensure compliance with the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer by phasing out the use of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and reducing their negative impacts on human health and the environment. Another UNIDO project strives to transform the market for using organic waste from olive oil production and other industries for energy generation (see: Bioenergy that is good for business).

 

The proposed UNIDO technical cooperation projects focus on such key areas as competiveness of export-oriented industries through industrial modernization and upgrading; fostering innovation eco-systems and digital transformation; upgrading the competitiveness of agri-food value chains; and eco-industrial parks development.

 

The Country Programme for Albania is expected to be officially launched in Tirana in the first half of 2020.

For more information, please contact:

Solomiya Omelyan

UNIDO Regional Division – Europe and Central Asia

Email

More information on UNIDO’s Country Programmes for Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development here.