The Mexican National Ozone Unit (NOU) successfully completed a training about the Green Cooling approach and instruments for a sustainable transformation of the RAC sector.
On the 18th and 21st of February 2022, 10 representatives of the National Ozone Unit in Mexico (Unidad del Protocolo de Montreal, UPM) successfully participated in a two-day training on Green Cooling organised by GIZ Proklima. The concept of Green Cooling describes the use of natural refrigerants in combination with highly energy-efficient appliances, ideally powered by renewable energy sources. The training provided an overview of the possible fields of actions to promote the Green Cooling approach and thereby a sustainable transformation of the cooling sector.
From policy instruments to end-of-life-management
On the first day, the training was opened with welcoming remarks by Susana Hernández, National Coordinator of the Mexican NOU. The participants were then introduced to the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment as the most important international conventions affecting the refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) sector.
On the second day, the participants learned how to successfully qualify, certify and register technicians handling natural refrigerants. This was accompanied by a keynote presentation of Néstor Hernandez from the Consejo en Excelencia Técnica (CET), a certification and evaluation of labor competencies entity in Mexico that focuses on the air conditioning, refrigeration, and heating industry.
Furthermore, the participants discussed general considerations for the practical applications of natural refrigerants like hydrocarbons (e.g. propane and isobutane), ammonia and carbon dioxide. This was followed by an introduction to energy efficiency as well as international norms and standards in the RAC sector.
Finally, since the collection, recycling and destruction of waste containing ozone depleting substances (ODS) and HFCs present challenges for many countries and are the source of substantial emissions, the participants also learned about ODS and HFC banks and end-of-life management of refrigerants.
Efforts will continue
The success and feedback for the training reassures GIZ’s efforts to facilitate a Green Cooling transformation in Mexico through building local technical capacity. Getting an overview of the different policy instruments, capacity building measures and technological challenges is key to address the RAC savings potential to achieve climate and development targets.
The training was organised within the scope of the project Green Cooling Initiative lll which is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and implemented by GIZ Proklima.