F-MAP: F-gas mitigation assessment and pathways

WP1 Scope and structure of tool framework (lead: SINTEF Energy Research)

WP1 lays the groundwork for the rest of the project. It defines the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump (RACHP) sectors and sub-sectors the tool will cover, and the data structure used to describe technologies. It also designs four case studies: an EU country with mature F-gas policy, a non-EU country with a less modern energy system, an African country with a tropical climate and emerging cooling demand, and a highly developed Asian country with advanced RACHP technologies. Finally, it builds a set of scenarios for time horizons such as 2030 and 2050 that capture technology development, policy changes and user behaviour.

WP2 Data collection on F-gas use, emissions and case studies (lead: International Institute of Refrigeration)

WP2 provides the data that feeds the tool. It starts with a critical review of existing models, databases and data-collection mechanisms, to build on what already exists and identify gaps. It then compiles harmonised datasets on F-gas consumption and emissions in the EU and in developing (Article 5) countries, including an estimate of the contribution from illegal trade in high-GWP refrigerants and data on SF₆ emissions from electrical switchgear. The work package also estimates the stock of refrigerants installed in each sector and gathers detailed datasets for the four case studies.

WP3 Technology database (lead: CNR)

WP3 builds a database of RACHP technologies, following the structure defined in WP1. One part covers the technologies currently installed: refrigerant type and charge, equipment age and capacity, and the margin for replacing them. The other covers best available technologies at TRL 7-9, drawn from scientific and technical literature, the partners’ industrial networks and the IIR’s global network. Together, these allow the tool to model today’s situation and compare mitigation options on a consistent basis.

WP4 Advancing knowledge for mitigation strategies and technologies (lead: CNR)

WP4 adds the knowledge needed to accelerate the transition to natural refrigerants. It extends the technology database with next-generation (TRL 4-6) solutions, with particular attention to air conditioning, and defines updated, country-specific leakage rates for F-gas equipment and SF₆ switchgear. It also assesses current practices for installing, servicing and decommissioning equipment, and the infrastructure available for recovering, recycling and destroying refrigerants. A final task scans for sectors and niche applications not yet considered for natural refrigerants, identifies the technical and non-technical barriers, and drafts a roadmap for further research.

WP5 Tool development – prototype phase (lead: SINTEF Energy Research)

WP5 designs and develops the F-MAP tool: an open-source optimisation tool that identifies cost-optimal or emission-optimal F-gas mitigation pathways for user-defined scenarios, regions and sectors. The core model is built on SINTEF’s EMX optimisation framework and can minimise costs under emission constraints, minimise emissions under cost constraints, or trade the two off against each other. A two-level design gives non-expert users a simplified default setup and expert users access to the full functionality. The work package delivers a working beta version, with a graphical user interface, capable of running the case studies.

WP6 Tool development – release phase (lead: SINTEF Ocean)

WP6 turns the prototype into a release version. The model is calibrated against one historical period and validated against another, to show that it reproduces real-world trends before it is used for projections. The tool is also compared with other F-gas mitigation models, as far as possible on identical inputs, and the results are published on the project website. Feedback from the case studies in WP7, the next-generation technologies and leakage rates from WP4, and usability testing then feed into the final refinements of the core model and the interface.

WP7 Case study analysis and impact assessment (lead: SINTEF Ocean)

WP7 applies the tool to the four case studies, using the scenarios from WP1 and the data from WP2-WP4. One set of analyses identifies least-cost technology pathways under different emission constraints; a second identifies the pathways with the lowest emissions under constraints such as investment cost and grid capacity, and the sectors where each euro invested saves the most emissions. A third task examines how F-gas mitigation pathways interact with energy system decarbonisation, including effects on electricity demand, peak load and grid characteristics. The results serve both to validate the tool and to inform the policy recommendations in WP8.

WP8 Capacity building and exploitation (lead: NTNU)

WP8 prepares the ground for the tool to be used after the project ends. It produces user manuals, guides and tutorials, and demonstrates the tool at case study workshops and open webinars. It also prepares technical briefs on mitigation technologies for different sectors, regions and stakeholder groups, and coordinates dialogues between researchers, industry and policymakers that lead to policy recommendations. An exploitation plan, built on two roadmaps (one for integrating the tool into policy frameworks, one for further research and innovation), sets out the path for F-MAP’s life after the project.

WP9 and WP10 Dissemination and stakeholder dialogue (lead: International Institute of Refrigeration)

These two work packages cover the first and second halves of the project. An advisory stakeholder group, with 17 confirmed members at the start of the project, guides the work on scenario building, tool inputs and outputs, and policy analysis. Dissemination follows a communication and dissemination strategy and includes the project website, social media, policy briefs, webinars, scientific publications and four regional case study workshops. The work packages also establish collaboration with related projects and initiatives, and represent F-MAP at European Commission events.

WP11 and WP12 Management and coordination (lead: SINTEF Energy Research)

These two work packages cover project management for the two reporting periods. A dedicated project manager oversees day-to-day implementation, monitors progress and finances, and acts as the main point of contact with the European Commission. The tasks include running the steering committee and the WP leader group, maintaining the data management plan, following up risks, and preparing the periodic reports. Four consortium meetings are planned: a kick-off in Norway, annual meetings in South Korea and Italy, and a final meeting in France or Belgium.