Work

Development and validation of a gridded emissions inventory for HFC-134a in China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a), a potent greenhouse gas, breaks down to form trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). Lack of its gridded emissions inventories makes it difficult to analyze the spatial distribution of emissions. This study developed a framework for national and gridded HFC-134a bank and emission calculations, validation and environmental impact assessments. Within this framework, we used production and consumption data along with emission factors to compile a gridded inventory for China. The results reveal an increase in national HFC-134a emissions, from 0.1 kt yr −1 in 1995 to 48 kt yr −1 in 2020, with banks also increasing from 0.9 to 301 kt. Guangdong, Jiangsu, and Shandong provinces showed the largest cumulative emissions, totaling 98 kt between 1995 and 2020, representing 28% of HFC-134a national emissions. A Lagrangian dispersion model, in conjunction with atmospheric observations, was used to validate the gridded inventory, where the simulations based on the gridded inventory were in reasonable agreement with the observations. A carbon–neutral (CN) scenario was developed to project future emissions. The adoption of HFO-1234yf and R-513A as substitutes for HFC-134a is projected to cause an additional 701 kt of cumulative TFA formation potential between 1995 and 2060, on top of the 3825 kt projected under the Kigali Amendment scenario.

Source: Environment International

DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109535