Local Appliance Stores participate in Promotion of Natural Refrigerants

 

Friday May 18th, 2018, St. George’s, Grenada:  Two local appliance stores in St. George’s are joining forces with the National Ozone Unit (NOU) and the Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change (C4) Project to promote the use of Natural Refrigerants in refrigeration systems.

The NOU is providing magnetic stickers to to the two appliance stores to be affixed to every refrigerator that is purchased using the natural refrigerants, R-600a.

This initiative is part of the NOU’s trust to replace the high global warming refrigerants, (such as R-134a), that is used in these appliances with alternatives that are environmentally friendly and at the same time more energy efficient.

R-600a (isobutane) is used as a replacement for R-12 and R-134a refrigerants in domestic refrigerators and small commercial refrigerators. This refrigerant has an ozone depleting potential (ODP) of zero and a negligible global warming potential (GWP) of 2.  Additionally, it has very good thermodynamic properties and very good cooling capacity.

Other advantages of this type of refrigerators are:

• very energy efficient
• cheaper and requires less refrigerant charge,
• operate at  lower pressures and extends the life of the compressors
• operates with less noise (quieter)

The two companies participating in this initiative are Courts grenada Limited (UNICOMER) and L A Purcell.

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The National Ozone Unit (NOU) of Grenada Launches two (2) new publications

St. George’s, Grenada: The National Ozone Unit (NOU) in collaboration with GIZ, under the “Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change” (C4) Project, recently launched two (2) publications on Natural Refrigerants.

The publications are aimed at sensitizing the public on the application of natural refrigerants as one of the long term, environmentally friendly, energy efficient alternative technology available for the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector.

One of the publications provides technical information designed to update the technicians and importers of RAC equipmet and refrigerants, while the other contains general information and is directed to the end users of RAC equipment.

Natural refrigerants have been used for decades but have become increasingly popular in recent times as a longer term, environmentally friendly (ODP=0, GWP=2)*, with energy  efficiency advantages. The NOU together with the C4 Project is promoting the widespread use of natural refrigerants in Grenada. Ultimately the goal is to reduce the use of green house gases (GHGs) and the emissions from the energy input required to operate RAC equipment. This will contribute towards Grenada meeting its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as well as its other commitments under the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

The publications feature three of the most commonly used natural refrigerants: hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and ammonia, which are used in a wide range of applications including, domestic refrigerators, unitary/split air condition systems and commercial and industrial refrigeration systems, among others.

The publications are also part of the NOU’s public awareness and educational outreach program to promote the use of low GWP alternatives in the refrigeration and conditioning sector in Grenada.

*(ODP=0, GWP=2) ODP – ozone depleting potential. GWP – global warming potential

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOU hosts National Consultation on Standard for the Safe Use, Handling, Transportation and Storage of Refrigerants, including Flammable Refrigerants

St. George’s, Grenada. May 15th, 2018: Stakeholders in the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector in Grenada met on Tuesday May 15^th, 2018, at the conference room of the Grenada Bureau of Standards (GDBS) during a National Public Consultation organized by the National Ozone Unit (NOU) in collaboration with the GDBS to provide comments and to discuss the draft standard for the Safe use, Handling, Storage and Transportation of Refrigerants, including Flammable Refrigerants.

Participants at the consultation represented a wide cross section of the RAC sector, including: the Grenada Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Ventilating Association (GRAVA), servicing companies, importers, training institutions, Customs, Chamber of Industry and Commerce and end users.

Chairperson of the technical committee for the development of the draft standard and National Ozone Officer, Mr. Leslie Smith, during his introductory remarks lamented on the importance for having the standard in place in light of the introduction of low global warming potential (GWP) alternatives into the country, many of which have concerns with toxicity, flammability and high operating pressures.  He further indicated that this initiative is a clear indication that Grenada is leaving no stone un-turned to convince the manufacturers of these RAC equipment that all the necessary measures are being put  in place to ensure the safe application of these technologies. This situation has been identified as one of the barriers hindering the uptake of such technologies. Additionally, the NOU has been responsible to providing training for over 80% of the RAC technicians in Grenada in natural refrigerant technology.

This national consultation was essentially a second attempt to acquire public comments on the draft standard, since the official period for public comments ended on March 31st, 2018. With the comments provided from the consultation, the final draft will be submitted to the Council of the GDBS for approval.  This will be the second standard to be approved for the RAC sector following the establishment of the standard for the labeling of refrigerant containers that was established in September 2016.

The “new” R-32 AC systems are here! A first for Grenada.

April 12th, 2018, St. George’s, Grenada:  Grenada is among the first countries in the Caribbean region to have installed the low global warming potential (GWP), zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) air condition cooling technology. Twenty-five (25) R-32 mini splits air condition units have been installed at a small hotel in the south of the island.  This is the first known facility to have installed the ozone friendly, low GWP, energy efficient cooling technology in Grenada. R-32 refrigerant has an ODP of zero and a GWP of 675 and is classified by many as a low GWP refrigerant.

Parties to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer are encouraged to transition to longer term low or zero GWP alternatives in the phase out of ozone depleting substances (ODS) in the refrigeration an air conditioning (RAC) sector .

This decision poses challenges for low volume consuming countries like Grenada who are essentially technology takers and with very limited options, especially in the mini-split air conditioning sub sector. The current refrigerant technology of choice operates with R-410A as the refrigerant. R-410A has a GWP of 2088 – much too high.

The most practical options available for that sub-sector are natural refrigerants, such as, hydrocarbons  (R-290) with zero  (ODP) and negligible GWP or low GWP options, such as R32. Many developed countries have already set as a policy to transition to R-32 refrigerants in the air-conditioning sector.

The National Ozone Unit (NOU) of Grenada has set as its policy to transition to natural refrigerants as the ozone and climate friendly, energy efficient alternative for the RAC sector.  However, many challenges are experienced in accessing AC units using natural refrigerants.  This novel initiative by the private sector can certainly open the floodgates for others to invest in such environmentally friendly, energy efficient technologies as a mid-term replacement for the high GWP,  hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants.

 

National Ozone Offcer Visits Silver Sands Project

St. George’s Grenada: April 6th, 2018: The National Ozone Officer for Grenada, Mr. Leslie Smith along with GIZ Technical Expert for the Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change (C4), Project, Mr. Curllan Bhola paid a visit to the Grenada Silver Sand Project to discuss refrigeration and air-condition cooling technologies to be installed at the facility under construction. The team met with Chief Engineer Mr. Don Cramer, who outlined the plans for meeting the cooling needs at the facility.

The Silver Sands Project which is due to commence operation in 2018 would be a 5 Star hotel with 44 hotel suites and 9 Luxury Private Villas.

Mr. Smith outlined to Mr. Cramer Grenada’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol and gave a brief over view of the current status in meeting those obligations.  A discussion ensued on the different types of low global warming potential (GWP) options that are available globally and the applicability of them here in Grenada.

This is the first engagement that the NOU has had with a development project of this size.  The NOU, Grenada encourages dialogue and engagement with all project developers to to ensure that environmentally friendly, energy efficient technologies are used in the refrigeration and cooling sector.

Evaluation of the refrigeration servicing sector: National Ozone Unit Hosts Consultant’s Visit

At its 79^th meeting, the Executive Committee of the Multilateral fund Secretariat for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol randomly selected Grenada as a low volume consuming country of ozone depleting substances to participate in a survey for the evaluation of the refrigeration servicing sector. This evaluation was planned in two stages:  stage one which has already been completed focused on a desk study. Stage two, which is currently ongoing, consists of country evaluation reports following the field visits, which would be based on the findings and recommendations of the desk study.

The field visit for Grenada is scheduled for April 9^th – 13^th, 2018.  The field visits will focus on key issues stressed in the desk study and will collect updated information about the project implementation, based on direct observation and discussions with various stakeholders.

The objective of the second stage of the evaluation is:

(a) To provide a thorough analysis of the project implementation in the refrigeration servicing sector;

(b) To formulate lessons learned for improving future similar projects; and

(c) To further assess potential issues that could be related to the phasing-down of HFCs in the servicing sector.

Furthermore, the evaluation will strive to provide quantitative data on the impacts and the costs of the activities in the servicing sector to the extent possible.

The evaluation will address the following issues:

1. a)Project implementation;
2. b)Policy, legal and regulatory frameworks
3. c)Technology related issues
4. d)Demonstration projects for the servicing sector
5. e)Training and sustainability of training results
6. f)Energy efficiency
7. g)Refrigerant containment
8. h)Awareness raising and dissemination of information
9. i)Funding

The Multilateral Fund Consultant, Mrs Martha Comte will pay a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary as well as, the Head of the Energy Division in the Ministry of Infrastructural Development, Public Utilities, Energy, Transport and Implementation to outline the scope of her mission.

Consultations and field visits have been planned for:

1. Customs and Excise Division
2. Grenada Bureau of Stnadards
3. The Grenada Refrigeration, Air-conditioning Association (GRAVA)
4. T A Marryshow Community College (TAMCC)
5. New Life Organisation (NEWLO)
6. Recovery and Recycling Centres at:
   • Maurice Bishop International Airport
   • St. George’s University
   • BL International
   • Cooling tech Limited

The National Ozone Unit will facilitate the visit and make all the logistical and other arrangements.

 

Women in the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Sector

Women in the Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Sector – Call for stories

 OzonAction, in cooperation with UN Women, is launching a global initiative to raise awareness of the opportunities available to women in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector (RAC). We are seeking short ‘stories’ about women working in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector, explaining their motivations, training and education, the challenges they may have faced, their experience and day to day details of their working lives and to recognise their successes.

 All the accepted submissions will be compiled into an official publication and outreached to a broad range of stakeholders in the Montreal Protocol and RAC community. The authors of the two most relevant and interesting submissions will be invited to attend an award ceremony and side event organised by UN Environment OzonAction at an international Montreal Protocol meeting.

 Completed entry forms with descriptions and photos should be received by 31st July 2018.

 Further information can be found in the attached flyer and submission form, or visit our website at:

http://web.unep.org/ozonaction/news/ozonaction-launches-initiative-highlight-women-refrigeration-and-air-conditioning-sector

New Customs Officers received Training in Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

Monday March 26th, 2018, St. George’s Grenada: Sixteen (16) Customs and Trade Officers received training in Monitoring, Control and Reporting of Trade in Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) on Monday March 19th – Tuesday March 20th, 2018.  The training which was organised by the National Ozone Unit (NOU) in conjunction with the Customs and Excise Division of the Ministry of Finance and Energy  is part of the training and initiation exercise for new customs officers.  It is also an integral component of Grenada’s hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) to regulate the importation of ODS prevent any attempts of illegal trade in these substances.  Customs officers in Grenada have been receiving this training since the year 2005 and has assisted the NOU tremendously in performing this agency function.

The training was facilitated by Mr. Rene Parkes of the Customs Division and the National Ozone Officer, Mr. Leslie Smith. The officers were exposed to both theoretical and practical sessions. The Customs and Excise division was among beneficiaries in 2017 that received state of the art multi-refrigerant identifiers to assist in the identification of refrigerants in cylinders and refrigeration and air-conditioning.

Among the many topics included in the training were:

• the Science of the Ozone layer
• the international response to Ozone Layer depletion
• Licensing and quota system for ODS
• ODS HS Classification
• ODS Smuggling
• Health and Safety
• ODS identification

On completion of the training, the officers were presented with Certificates of Participation.  The certificates were presented to them by the Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Donan Victor during a brief closing ceremony.  Addressin the  ceremony, Mr. Victor complemented the trainees  for their co-operation and active participation and implored upon them to put the equipment to full use in performing their roles as agents for the protection of the environment.

Funding for the training was provided by the Multilateral Fund for the implementation of the Montreal Protocol and Implemented by UN Environment in collaboration with the national Ozone Unit in the Ministry of Finance and Energy

 

 

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST FOR R-290 AC DEMONSTRATION.

National Ozone Unit (NOU) in the Energy Division of the Ministry of Finance and Energy in conjunction with the global programme “Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change” (C4) request for suitable demonstration sites for evaluating the energy performance of R-290 (hydrocarbon) split air-conditioning units

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

The project Cool Contribution Fighting Climate Change (C4) is making available to the private sector in Grenada, a total of six (6) climate friendly split air conditioners for demonstration purposes. The objective of this initiative is to evaluate the energy efficiency of these R-290 Split AC units (12,000 BTU and 18,000 BTU cooling capacity) and to promote the use of natural refrigerant technologies in Grenada.

This project is being implemented by the National Ozone Unit (NOU) in the Energy Division of the Ministry of Finance and Energy, in conjunction with the Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, as part of the global programme “Cool Contribution fighting Climate Change”, funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

The general objective of this is to promote the use of energy-efficient and climate friendly air conditioning appliances while increasing the availability of natural refrigerants such as, R-600a and R-290.

The project now invites eligible private sector entities to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) giving consideration to the following criteria.

Private sector entities shall be eligible to participate if:

• Adequate space requiring cooling is available
• Solid ceilings (concrete, drop or tiled) and walls
• The room should already contain only one working AC unit of similar size (either 12,000 BTU or 18,000 BTU)
• The private sector entity has technicians trained in flammable refrigerant technology (hydrocarbons)
• Up to date data or records on the existing AC is available
• The room meets the minimum area and installation height for the charge size of the AC unit.
  • For the 12 000 BTU unit[1] the room size shall be at least 17m² (with minimum installation height of 1.8 m)
  • For the 18 000 BTU unit[2] the room size shall be at least 23m² (with minimum installation height of 1.8 m)
• The following should be considered for the indoor unit:
• There shall be no electric appliance, power switch or socket under the indoor unit.
• There should be a minimum distance of about 1 m from TV-sets or any other electrical appliances.
• The air inlet and outlet vent should not be obstructed, make sure that the air can be blown throughout the entire room
• Ready to actively participate in the promotion of climate-friendly green cooling:
• Providing information and access to the equipment for public awareness and promotional purposes
• Make available for the general public information
• Participate during outreach events and stakeholder consultations
• Provide a mechanism for data collection, monitoring and servicing of the equipment throughout the appliance’s lifetime.

Private sector entities shall not be eligible to participate if:

 The presence of strong heat sources, combustible gases, vapors or volatiles substances are present in the room

• The environment possess high frequency waves, e.g. by radio equipment, medical or welding equipment
• Places with very contaminated air (such as places with oil containing air)

Expressions of Interest must be received no later than, 04:00 pm (Eastern Caribbean Time) on Friday 30th March, 2018. Submission shall either be in hard copy or in electronic format in the form of a PDF document sent to the address or email below:

Petra Fraser

Administrative Officer

German-Grenadian Pilot Programme

Integrated Climate Change Adaptation Strategies (ICCAS)

Ministerial Complex, Botanical Gardens

P.O. Box 3269, St. George’s

Telephone: 440-2708 Ext. 26845

Email: petra.fraser@giz.de

The submission should include the organization’s name and address, and shall be clearly marked “EXPRESSION OF INTEREST – R-290 SPLIT AC FOR COOLING NEEDS PILOT” on the envelope for submissions in hard copy or on the email subject line for electronic submissions.

Following the assessment of submissions, a short-list will be provided and a Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) will be established between the NOU, C4 Project and the private sector entity. The project reserves the right to accept or reject late applications or to cancel the present invitation partially or in its entirety. It will not be bound to assign any reason for not short‑listing any applicant and will not defray any costs incurred by any applicant in the preparation and submission of Expressions of Interest.

 

 

Leslie Smith National Ozone Officer Energy Division Ministry of Finance & Energy Financial complex The Carenage, St. George’s Tel: +1-473-435-8708 Email:energydivisionou@gmail.com

Curllan Bhola Technical Expert Cool Contribution fighting Climate Change (C4) GIZ Office in the Ministry of Finance and Energy The Carenage, St. George’s Tel: + 1-473-423-2409 Email: curllan.bhola@giz.de

 

[1] Assuming a refrigerant charge size of 310 g

[2] Assuming a refrigerant charge size of 360 g

Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) Online Assessor Training for for Local Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Technicians

St. George’s Grenada, March 09, 2018: The National Ozone Unit (NOU) has provided funding assistance to facilitate the participation of three local technicians in an Online Certified Assessor Training for the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).

The training which started on March 1st, 2018 and would run for 24 weeks is aimed at developing the competency of the participants in assessing CVQ candidates in the RAC field. At the end of the course there would be a practicum of which the participants will be assessed. On successful completion the participants would be awarded an Assessor Level 4 regional qualification certification.

The NOU under the capacity development and training component of the Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) Phase-out Management Plan (HPMP) is funding two participants fully and assisting the third with 50% financing.  The  three participants are Mr. Michael Cadore, HVAC Lecturer at the T A Marryshow Community College, Mr Oral Ferguson and MR. Erson Roden attached to two separate private sector companies.  On completion this would bring to five, the number of local technicians trained at this level. The training is organised and facilitated by the Grenada National Training Agency (GNTA) and more information can be obtained at http://www.grenadanta.gd.