HEAT PUMPS
Cool with propane, warm with purpose
Propane heat pumps can help decarbonise buildings, says Aermec’s James Meadows.
W James Meadows
ith the race on to fi nd lower GWP refrigerants, more energy-effi cient heat and cooling solutions and the drive towards electrifi cation, the HVAC industry
has never been so innovative. New technologies and products are regularly being brought to market. Now, heat pumps that use propane as a refrigerant are gaining traction and being vaunted as one of the friendliest environmental options for heat pumps, largely thanks to their higher energy effi ciencies and ultra-low Global Warming Potential (GWP). The EU has already agreed that 2050 is the date set for HFCs to be phased out completely, but as technology is continually evolving, this will be reviewed in 2040. Even so, production of HFCs will be phased down to a minimum of 15% by 2036. The EU regulations do not specifi cally apply to Great Britain, whereas they do to Northern Ireland. The UK is expected to be in alignment as the F-Gas regulations here are denoted as ‘retained EU law’, which means that the requirements remain the same as under EU legislation. Great Britain may even adopt more stringent measures. Traditionally, separate technologies have been deployed in commercial buildings for heating and cooling, with water heating generally provided by gas-fuelled boilers. Sustainability commitments propelled a rethink, favouring heat pumps, which can provide either a heating or cooling function.
Regulations combined with end users’ environmental concerns have also spurred the HVAC industry towards the use of ‘natural refrigerants.’ Hydrocarbons are seen as more sustainable alternatives with their lower global warming potential, which reduces their contribution to climate change considerably as a key attribute. With ever pressing demands to act on climatic challenges,
transitioning to naturals is gaining more prominence, and every major manufacturer is now off ering R290 (Propane) heat pumps.
The shift towards Propane heat pumps is not just because they use a natural refrigerant and have a GWP (Global Warming Potential) of just three. (Natural, describes a refrigerant that comprises carbon and hydrogen, two components which naturally occur in abundance in nature.) Heat pumps have become globally recognised as an essential technology to improve energy effi ciency and decarbonise, whilst providing energy security. The war in Ukraine has encouraged many countries to reassess their energy sources and to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels by stepping up their decarbonisation programmes. Heat pumps are a key part of the UK’s plan to deliver net
zero. Thanks to propane’s thermodynamic properties, high effi ciencies, reliable performance, and, unlike synthetic refrigerants, propane doesn’t contain Perfl uoroalkyl and Polyfl uoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) and has no glide, factors which are also helping propane heat pumps gain traction. Key advantages are:
■Low GWP ■Ozone-friendly and meets the Montreal Protocol ■ Energy effi ciency, which can result in lower energy consumption/operational costs
■Propane is a natural substance and widely available.
Manufacturers like Aermec have carried out extensive R&D, ensuring that propane products are engineered with the most stringent safety measures. Special considerations have been given to the design that includes the amount of refrigeration required and hermetic seals to minimise leakages. Classed as an A3 refrigerant, which denotes its low toxicity and high fl ammability, propane heat pumps have raised questions, but it is considered safe when used in well- designed and maintained systems. Manufacturers go to great
24 November 2025 •
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