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3 3 Industrial Refrigeration
No ban on new HFC-based industrial refrigeration equipment was included in the previous F-Gas Regulation update. Yet despite this fact, this is one of the most mature HVAC&R sectors in terms of climate-friendly alternative solutions. Ammonia has been used in this application since the 1800s and there is an increasing trend towards large transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems too in the industrial refrigeration sector.
Stakeholders were asked how this lack of a market prohibition has affected the sector in terms of 1) increasing the uptake of climate-friendly alternative technologies; 2) increasing the development of climate-friendly alternative technologies; and 3) increasing the price competitiveness of climate-friendly alternative technologies.
Answers highlighted the negative impact this lack of prohibition has had on the sector developing alternative
solutions. Sixty percent of survey respondents said that not having a ban slowed the uptake of climate-friendly alternative technologies in the industrial refrigeration sector, and 53% said it also slowed the development of such technologies. With regards to increasing the price competitiveness of climate-friendly alternative technologies, 53% of respondents believed that there was no impact, suggesting another lost opportunity.
Respondents were asked if they thought this sector would have fully converted to natural refrigerants by now had a sectoral ban been included for 2020. The majority (78%) were positive that this would have happened by 2020.
When asked whether they support a full ban on HFC-based equipment in industrial refrigeration by 2024, 72% said they did. Those who did not support it by this timeline were asked by when they thought such a ban could take effect in this sector. The result was evenly split across a five-year timeline between 1 January 2025 and 1 January 2030.
Respondents were also asked about their refrigerant of choice for industrial refrigeration applications and half (50%) selected CO2, with ammonia taking 33% of the votes. Reasons listed included that these refrigerants offered great efficiency, reduced cost, a favourable environmental impact, and ease of maintenance.
