Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases

Global Mitigation of Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases: Fire Protection

Key Points

Greenhouse gas emissions from fire protection equipment are projected to nearly triple between 2010 and 2030.
Total flooding fire suppression abatement options involve replacing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs) with lower-GWP alternatives, including both in-kind and not-in-kind measures.
Any abatement potential in the fire protection equipment sector in 2030 is projected to cost $39 per ton carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) or more. To reduce emissions by 4.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e) or more, costs of $50 per tCO₂e or more are projected.

Sector Description

The fire protection sector emits HFCs and PFCs when total flooding fire suppression systems and portable fire extinguishers are used. Greenhouse gas emissions from this sector were estimated at 21 MtCO₂e in 2010. Under the baseline scenario, emissions are projected to increase significantly to 59 MtCO₂e in 2030.

2030 emissions from fire protection equipment are projected to be 59 million MtCO2e, or 0.4% of total non-CO2 emissions. Projected 2030 top five emitting countries for fire protection equipment are Australia, China, Japan, Poland, and Mexico. View or download the full-size image here.(115 K, PNG)

Emissions Reduction Potential

Assuming full implementation of current technology, emissions in the fire protection sector could be reduced by up to 6 MtCO₂e in 2030. This accounts for 0.14% of the 4,615 MtCO₂e in global reduction potential in 2030.

Potential for HFC and PFC reductions from fire protection equipment: Emissions with full implementation of current technology could be reduced by up to 6 MtCO2e in 2030, or 0.14% of the 4,615 MtCO2e in global reduction potential for non-CO2 GHGs in 2030. View or download the full-size image here.(95 K, PNG)

Abatement Potential

From the options quantified, global abatement potential of emissions from total flooding fire suppression applications is projected to be 6.4 MtCO₂e, or nearly 11% of baseline emissions, in 2030. There is little abatement potential at break-even prices below $50 per tCO₂e in 2030, which is projected to have the potential to abate 4.6 MtCO₂e from the fire protection sector, or 8% of baseline emissions.

2030 baseline projected global HFC and PFC emissions from fire protection equipment: It would be cost-effective to reduce emissions by 0% compared to the baseline. An additional 11% reduction is available using technologies with increasingly higher costs. It would be cost-effective to reduce emissions by 0%, compared to the baseline, in 2030. An additional 11% reduction is available using technologies with increasingly higher costs.

View or download the full-size image here.(35 K, PNG)

Abatement Measures

The abatement options explored replace HFCs and PFCs with zero or low-GWP extinguishing agents to reduce CO₂e emissions from the fire protection sector’s total flooding equipment. The alternatives to HFCs and PFCs in total flooding equipment are both in-kind gaseous agents and not-in-kind options. The in-kind gaseous alternatives include CO₂, inert gases, and fluorinated ketones, and the not-in-kind alternatives include varying materials and systems such as dispersed and condensed aerosol extinguishing systems, water sprinklers, water mist, foam, and inert gas generators.

2030 achievable reductions in fire protection equipment HFC and PFC emissions by technology. The solid bars show reductions achievable at a cost less than $0/tCO2e, and the fading bars show the reductions achievable at a higher prices. Emissions reductions by technology in 2030 at $0/tCO₂e and at higher prices.

View or download the full-size image here.(35 K, PNG)

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