ghg-inventory-1990-2013

agency. The weighted average quantity of propellant per dose is calculated from
information supplied by industry. HFC-134a propellant was first used in metered dose
inhalers in 1995. Pharmac’s figures for total doses demonstrate a relatively small increase
in activity from 1999 to 2013 with the HFC proportion steadily increasing to 100 per cent
by 2012 (as CFCs were phased out).
Solvents
A survey of distributors of solvent products and solvent recycling firms did not identify
any use of HFCs or PFCs as solvents in New Zealand (CRL Energy, 2014).
4.7.3 Uncertainties and time-series consistency
The uncertainty in estimates of actual emissions from the use of HFCs and PFCs varied
with each application and is described in table 4.7.3. For most sources, a quantitative
assessment is provided for activity data and other calculation components from expert
opinion. These components are then combined for a statistical calculation of uncertainty.
Table 4.7.3 New Zealand’s uncertainties in the consumption of HFCs (CRL Energy, 2014)
HFC Source Uncertainty estimates (%)
Stationary refrigeration/air conditioning Combined uncertainty ±50
Mobile air conditioning Combined uncertainty ±32
Foam Combined uncertainty ±49
Aerosols Combined uncertainty ±56
Metered dose inhalers Combined uncertainty ±10
Fire protection Combined uncertainty ±32
4.7.4 Source-specific QA/QC and verification
In the preparation of this Inventory, the data for the consumption of HFCs underwent Tier
1 quality checks. During data collection and calculation, activity data provided by
industry was verified against national totals where possible, and unreturned
questionnaires and anomalous data were followed up and verified to ensure a complete
and accurate record of activity data.
4.7.5 Source-specific recalculations
Stationary refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment
Several improvements in the estimation of emissions from Stationary Refrigeration and
Air Conditioning (SRAC) have been made for this submission. An adjustment has been
applied to account for stockpiling before the 2013 ETS introduction for HFCs. Without
detailed information on supplier stock changes, all imports have to be assumed emitted in
the import year. Therefore SRAC emissions in 2011, 2012 and 2013 appeared to be 832,
620 and 72 tonnes respectively. By averaging those three years of supply for all SRAC
HFCs, the total emissions balance out to more realistic levels of 490 to 520 tonnes (and
2014 emissions appear to have returned to pre-2011 levels).
HFC-134a imports in household refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator/freezers were each
reduced by 5 per cent instead of the previous 1 per cent in 2011, and 15 per cent instead
of the previous 3 per cent in 2012. This accounts for the major increase in equipment
imports with hydrocarbon refrigerants.
With increasing evidence of alternative refrigerants in the coolstore sector, it was
assumed that 3 tonnes of R407F was installed in 2012 instead of R404A.
114 New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990–2013