A Survey on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases in Taiwan: Emission Trends, Regulatory Strategies, and Abatement Technologies

Abstract

Fluorinated greenhouse gases (F-gases), including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), are used in a variety of applications, but they are potent greenhouse gases (GHGs). Therefore, they have been blanketed into the list of items to be phased out under international protocols or treaties. During the desk research, the updated statistics of Taiwan’s National Inventory Report (NIR) were used to analyze the trends of F-gases (i.e., HFCs, PFCs, SF6, and NF3) emissions during the period of 2000–2020. Furthermore, the regulatory strategies and measures for the reduction of the four F-gas emissions will be summarized to be in accordance with the national and international regulations. With the rapid development in the electronics industry, the total F-gas emissions indicate a significant increase from 2462 kilotons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) in 2000 to the peak value (i.e., 12,643 kilotons) of CO2eq in 2004. However, it sharply decreased from 10,284 kilotons of CO2eq in 2005 to 3906 kilotons of CO2eq in 2020 due to the ongoing efforts of the regulatory requirements and the industry’s voluntary reduction in time sequence. It was also found that the most commonly used method for controlling the emissions of F-gases from the semiconductor and optoelectronic industries in Taiwan is based on the thermal destruction-local scrubbing method.