Subproject 2.1: Training of Trainers in Refrigerants Service

Subproject 2.1: Training of Trainers in Refrigerants Service

COUNTRY: Republic of ESTONIAIMPLEMENTING AGENCY:UNEP

PROJECT TITLE:TRAINING OF TRAINERS FOR USE OF ODS-FREE REFRIGERANTS IN MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING

PROJECT IN CURRENT BUSINESS PLAN:Yes

SECTOR/ SUBSECTOR:Refrigeration

ODS USE IN SECTOR: (1998)40.1MT ODP

PROJECT IMPACT: 8MT ODP

PROJECT DURATION: 36 Months

PROJECT COSTS: Incremental Capital CostUS$ 111,000

ContingenciesUS$ 3,330

Incremental Operating CostUS$N/A

Total Project CostsUS$114,330

LOCAL OWNERSHIP:100%

EXPORT COMPONENT: 0%

REQUESTED GRANT:US$ 114,330

COST-EFFECTIVENESS:US$/kg/y (not applicable)

EXECUTING AGENCY FEE (8%):US$ 9,146

TOTAL COST OF PROJECT TO GEF:US$ 123,476

STATUS OF COUNTERPART FUNDING:US$N/A

PROJECT MONITORING MILESTONES INCLUDED:Included (see Wok Plan)

NATIONAL COORDINATING BODY: / Ministry of the Environment

PROJECT SUMMARY

This project uses the train-the-trainers approach to provide technical information and training on good servicing practices to technicians in the refrigeration sector in order to reduce CFC consumption during servicing of refrigeration units. In order to achieve the objectives identified in the Country Programme Action Plan and the Refrigerant Management Plan, professional hands-on training for service, maintenance and repair technicians is essential. The refrigeration sector uses 40.1 ODP Tonnes or 75.34 percent of the total ODS consumption in 1998. This training project will reduce by 20 percent the use of ODS in the refrigeration servicing sector. It is thus critical for the effective phase-out of CFC in Estonia.

STAP REVIEW: Not applicable

1.Background

There are approximately 66 refrigeration service workshops and 450 refrigeration technicians in the country. Approximately 38.8 Tonnes of CFC-12 are used for servicing of domestic, commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment.

Currently, many servicing shops flush the system with CFC-11 and CFC-12 and vent the CFC prior to the final charge. Also, leaks are often discovered after charging the system. This charge is then vented to repair the leak. In such situations recharge may be done more than once with the consequence of venting large quantities of CFC. These practices are extremely wasteful and need to be discontinued. With training in good servicing practices and conservation techniques, these improper practices can be minimized and waste could be greatly reduced.

This project is part of an overall strategy by the Government for the Refrigeration Sector. The Government’s first priority is to stop the discharge of CFC into the atmosphere due to leaks and servicing emissions in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sub-sectors. In order to achieve this goal, the Government is considering to enact a regulation to control the deliberate venting of CFC and consequently has decided to launch a comprehensive RMP which comprises among other things a National Recovery & Recycling Programme and a Training Programme on Good Practices in Refrigeration.

2.Objectives

The Train the Trainers Programme in the Refrigeration Sector has the objective of reducing CFC emissions and consequently consumption in the refrigeration sector by improving the maintenance procedures for refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment through training of trainers in good practices in refrigeration and introducing up-to-date practices in CFC, HCFC and HFC charging as well as handling.

The training programme will cover the following items: Elements of ozone depletion, its effects, and the relation with control measures and provisions under the Montreal Protocol on controlled refrigerants; use of alternative non-ODS refrigerants and synergy with the related requirements of the Climate Change Convention; of methods for appropriate servicing and maintenance practices for CFC-containing refrigeration equipment, as well as for equipment working with new drop in refrigerants, leak detection; concepts of refrigerant recovery and recycling; correct handling of refrigerants; government regulations which will affect the refrigeration sector, including practical hand-on sessions with R&R equipment.

Throughout the implementation of this project the aims and goals of the Montreal Protocol and the Climate Change Convention will be taken into consideration when applying the chosen training methodology specified in the document.

3.Expected results and criteria for success

The expected results from this training Programme are:

• Training of 20 future trainers in good practices in refrigeration;
• Training of 400 refrigeration technicians in good practices in refrigeration;
• Reduction of wasteful use of CFC in servicing of refrigeration equipment; and
• Inclusion of issues related to ozone protection in the ongoing refrigeration training of technical schools in the country.

The criteria used to measure the success of this Programme will be:

• Number of technicians trained;
• Reduction of CFC used for servicing refrigeration equipment. It is estimated that approximately 20% or 8 Tonnes reduction per year after the technicians have been trained;
• Inclusion of issues related to ozone protection in the ongoing refrigeration training of technical schools in the country.

4.Target audience

Training will be given to the teaching staff of technical training institutes catering to refrigeration technicians as a first priority and to some of the most qualified technicians from the largest refrigeration workshops. The two most important training centers in the country are the EstonianMaritimeCollege and the School of Agriculture in Turi.

Professional experience of this target audience should be no less than five years.

5.Approach

The project will be divided in three phases:

Phase I: During the first phase, about twenty (20) selected technical trainers and more experienced technicians will be trained as trainers by an international consultant in one training course; and

Phase II: In this phase 400 technicians will be trained by the local trainers who were trained during the Phase I of this Programme. There will be 16 training courses for 400 technicians; and

Phase III: During this phase monitoring activities will start and the results of the training will be evaluated.

The UNEP Training Manual on Good Practices in Refrigeration and the Manual on Chillers and refrigerant Management will be used as the main training material and will be adapted to local needs when needed.

Procurement of two sets of recovery equipment and one set of recycling equipment for on-hand demonstrations during the training sessions is part of this project.

After the technicians are trained, a certificate will be awarded to those who have successfully completed the training course. This certificate should become, as soon as possible, one of the requirements to be licensed to handle and purchase CFC. Only organizations whose technicians would have been trained would be allowed to purchase and handle ODS.

6.Time frame

Phase I: The first training course for trainers will take place approximately six months after approval of the project.

Phase II: 16 training courses will be held immediately after completion of Phase I with a one month interval between each course; and

Phase III: Following phase II, monitoring and project evaluation shall be carried out for a period of twelve months.

7.Co-operating partners and their role

Training will be the responsibility of the Ozone Unit in close co-operation with the leading technical training institutes. Key refrigeration associations and servicing companies will be involved from the start of the project in order to get their input to fine-tune this Programme.

One international expert on refrigeration system servicing, maintenance and CFC recovery, recycling and reclaiming will be fielded as soon as the training equipment will arrive in the country.

8.Supporting and follow up actions

The regulatory measures being undertaken by the Government in the framework of the RMP, and more specifically those concerning the distribution and consumption of CFC and the certification of technicians shall be those required to support the training Programme.

A reporting system will be designed by the local consultant in order to ascertain how CFC refrigerants are being used in key selected refrigeration-servicing companies as a follow-up action,. Reports will be produced six months after the end of Phases I and II. The findings in these reports will be included in the Project Completion Report that shall be submitted to the Executive Committee.

9.Detailed budget

The total budget for this project is given below. Requested funding will cover fees and travel costs for an international consultant, fees for a local consultant, development of technical materials, office supplies, workshop costs for both initial and subsequent training sessions, simultaneous translation during the the workshops, and travel as well as DSA for Estonian participants travelling from cities other than where the workshops will be held. The budget also includes funding to cover the costs for monitoring and evaluation of the project.

The project budget is detailed below:

1