Chapter 3
3.1 Commercial Refrigeration The existing F-Gas Regulation includes a provision that introduces a ban, coming into effect in January 2022, on the use of HFCs with a GWP higher than 150 in “multipack centralised refrigeration systems for commercial use with a rated capacity of 40kW…except in a primary refrigerant circuit of cascade systems where fluorinated greenhouse gases with a GWP of less than 1,500 may be used”. The European Commission introduced the HFC prohibition following a thorough evaluation, which found that energyefficient, cost-effective and technically viable alternatives to high-GWP HFCs in this sector are available.4 Survey respondents showed clear ambition in terms of sectoral bans in the commercial refrigeration market. If hypothetically the F-Gas Regulation update was to ban the use of all fluorinated refrigerants, respondents were asked to estimate by when natural-refrigerant technology providers would to be able to support the entire commercial refrigeration market in the EU (single-choice answer). Responses were varied, with 19% stating that this could be achieved in under two years, and another combined 62% estimating a two- to 10-year timeline. Only 11% believed the answer to be “never”.
4
Figure 3.1.1 In your opinion, if the F-Gas Regulation update was to ban the use of ALL fluorinated refrigerants, by when, do you think, would natural-refrigerant technology providers be able to support the entire commercial refrigeration market in the EU? (select one) 47 responses
11% Never 9% More than 10 years
32% 5-10 years
See Preparatory Study; European Commission, Impact Assessment: Review of Regulation (EC) No 842/2006 on cer-
tain fluorinated greenhouse gases (Commission Staff Working Paper), SWD(2012)0364 (hereinafter “Impact Assessment”), available at https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/clima/files/f-gas/legislation/docs/swd_2012_364_en.pdf.
22
Market Readiness Per Sector
19% Less than 2 years
30% 2-5 years
