Norway’s f-gas tax soars 44% in 2014, updated GUIDE⁺ publication shows

Launched by market development expert shecco initially in December 2013 and updated in January 2014, the publication "GUIDE⁺: HFC taxes & fiscal incentives for natural refrigerants in Europe" provides an excellent overview of existing and proposed fiscal measures in key European countries, aimed at reducing the use and emissions of HFCs in HVAC&R sectors while encouraging the switch to climate-friendly technologies. The report allows a comparison of the different HFC tax levels currently in place and how they have evolved over the years, while also analysing the level of ambition and support provided by different financial incentives for natural refrigerant technologies in several European countries.

Environmental taxes on HFCs

The first two chapters of the publication focus on HFC taxes in countries where such environmental taxes are already in place, have been previously proposed or are currently under consideration. According to the report, current HFC tax levels in Europe, depending on the country vary from €0.71 per tCO₂eq in Slovenia to about €42.5 per tCO₂eq in Norway.

The countries included in the report where HFC taxes are in place or have been considered, include:

• Denmark
• France (considered)
• Norway
• Poland (considered)
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden (considered)

Financial incentives for natural refrigerants

While environmental taxes on HFCs are used by some countries as the means to reduce emissions, and use of these climate-polluting gases, several countries across Europe have chosen other types of fiscal incentives to support natural refrigerant technologies. While differing in scope, technology, budget and level of support provided, all these financial incentives have a common goal: to incentivise end-users to invest in energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies using natural refrigerants, to reduce emissions of HFCs.

While Austria and Germany have introduced investment grants at the state level, seven regions in Switzerland, together with the Flemish Region of Belgium, have their own regional level green investment support schemes. The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have taken a slightly different approach by providing accelerated tax relief for environmentally friendly investments.

The countries included in the report where investment grant or accelerated tax relief schemes are in place, include:

• Austria
• Belgium (Flanders)
• Germany - more details about the NEW rules applicable as of January 2014
• The Netherlands
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

More about the new GUIDE⁺

"GUIDE⁺: HFC taxes & fiscal incentives for natural refrigerants in Europe” is the first publication under shecco’s new GUIDE⁺ series, which will offer special, in-depth analysis on topics relevant for the natural refrigerant industry and will be available for purchase on shecco publications website.