REFRIGERANTS Low GWP
refrigerants are the new normal
Every few years we see a shift in the usage pattern of refrigerants. The reality is that changes in refrigerant usage patterns are happening gradually all the time as the market moves to low GWP refrigerants. Next year though we will see a further cut of approximately 29% in the F-Gas quota that can be placed on the market, as Peter Dinnage, technical director, Climalife UK discusses here.
U
nlike previous quota cuts that have been spread across the whole of the EU, this one will apply specifically to the UK and the cut will be based on
what was placed on the UK market in 2018 and 2019. Since the last reduction in quota we have seen a rapid move away from R404A to R448A and R449A and new A2L low GWP refrigerants such as R32, R1234yf, R1234ze and blends containing these, being used in new equipment. The market is much better prepared and informed on what it needs to do and what could happen if lower GWP refrigerant uptake isn’t quick enough. The market has found some breathing space in that illegal product in parts of Europe have meant the quota limits have not been impacted as much as expected.
Covid-19 and the ban on virgin refrigerants with a GWP >2500 has also had an effect on quota demand this year. However, the remainder of this year is the time to benefit from doing conversions of high GWP systems before quota tightens up again. The major reductions in quota will now have to come in the selection of refrigerant for new equipment, but that carries with it increased demands for energy efficiency and carbon reductions as we cannot hide from the fact that cooling demands are likely to increase and energy use must be as efficient as possible to ensure carbon neutral targets can be met. Interest in moving to low GWP refrigerants has never been greater and equipment manufacturers are rising to
20 October 2020
www.acr-news.com
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