Market and policy trends for natural refrigerant technology around the world

Klára Skačanová, Deputy Manager, Market Development, shecco

about shecco

market accelerator for climate friendly technologies, with focus on sustainable heating and cooling with natural refrigerants

global trends for HCs in domestic refrigeration

global trends for HCs in domestic refrigeration

more than 700 million domestic refrigerators already use hydrocarbons globally

HC is the standard for 50% global production of new domestic refrigeration equipment

by 2020, 75% of new production will use R600a / R290

global trends for natural refrigerants in light- commercial refrigeration

4.3 million HFC-free light-commercial refrigeration equipment

global trends for natural refrigerants in light- commercial refrigeration

europe: ambitious legislation drives natural refrigerants

europe: domestic and light commercial refrigeration

All new domestic refrigerators and freezers use hydrocarbons in Europe - standard

use of HFC-free equipment in light commercial refrigeration is becoming a standard across Europe

source: shecco, status: end 2013

480k+ HC plug-in cabinets (2013 data)

europe: growing appetite for NR light commercial refrigeration

Phase-down of bulk HFCs (measured in tonnes of CO2eq) by 79% by 2030 compared to average levels in 2009-2012

Bans on high GWP HFCs in new equipment for some sectors

Servicing ban on HFCs with GWP > 2500 (by 2022 for virgin refrigerants, by 2030 for recycled & reclaimed)

Training & certification needs to include information on alternatives to HFCs

EU F-Gas Regulation drives naturals

! 100%

93%

63%

45%

31%

21%24%

79%

Sector GWP limit Year

Domestic refrigeration 150 2015

Stationary refrigeration (except < -50°C) 2500 2020

Hermetically sealed commercial refrigeration 150 2022

Centralized commercial refrigeration (≥40kW), except in the primary refrigerant circuit of cascade systems where f-gases with a GWP<1500 may be used

150 2022

Movable room AC 150 2020

Single split AC (< 3kg of f-gases) 750 2025

EU F-Gas Regulation: HFC bans

china: changing policy landscape

china: domestic refrigeration

nearly all new domestic refrigeration equipment use HC

the market also continues to grow as the demand for domestic refrigerators increases, due to the raising of living standards in China

320,000 HC ice cream freezers

2,500 HC bottle coolers & vending machines

400,000 HC stand-alone cabinets 25,000

CO2 bottle coolers & vending machines

china: light-commercial applications

source: shecco, status: Feb 2015

• phase-out of production and consumption of HCFCs by 2030 = global impact

• revised Environmental Protection Law in 2015, after 25 years = increasing accountability of polluters and government for environmental issues

• increasing government support for natural refrigerants in several sectors, especially room AC, heat pumps, commercial & industrial refrigeration

china: policy trends

residential air conditioning (R290)

plug-in commercial refrigeration (R290, R600a)

residential heat pump water heaters

commercial & industrial heat pump water heaters

mobile air conditioning

commercial and industrial refrigeration

industrial refrigeration

transport refrigeration

condensing units

china: recommended substitutes for HCFCs (June 2015)

north america: growing interest in naturals

north america: domestic refrigeration

in the USA, the introduction of hydrocarbons in household refrigeration is not yet a standard

market taking longer to transition as a result of policy and market-related factors

usa: policy for HCs in domestic refrigeration

UL standard - key barrier to introduction of hydrocarbons

• UL 250 allows maximum 57g of A3 refrigerant in household refrigeration equipment

• No revision planned in near future

US EPA SNAP Programme opens door to hydrocarbons

• R600a and R441A were approved for use in new household fridges and freezers already in Dec 2011 (venting prohibition lifted in 2014)

• In Feb 2015, R290 was approved in domestic refrigeration

“I believe the use of R290 could have a major impact in the residential refrigeration sector. The ability to get to lower temperature could be a game changer” True Manufacturing

north america: light commercial refrigeration

4,375 3,797 17,493 77,00029,064 159,307

MEXICO

188,371 U.S.

94,493 CANADA

8,172

over 291,000 NR stand-alone refrigeration units

north america: light commercial refrigeration

42.9% 71.4% 95.2%CO2 HC HFCs

current refrigerant use

CO2 and hydrocarbons are speeding up

BUT large part of the industry still uses HFCs

commitments of large consumer brands will increasingly drive the market towards naturals

US EPA SNAP Programme

• In Feb 2015, 4 HCs approved in 6 new applications: stand-alone

commercial refrigerators and freezers (R600a, R441A); vending machines

(R600a, R290 and R441A); residential and light-commercial AC and heat

pumps (R290, R441A); very low temperature & heat transfer (R170); household

refrigeration (R290)

• SNAP de-listing of certain high GWP HFCs (incl. R134a) in certain

sectors - as of 2019 / 2020 for stand-alone units

2017: DOE energy efficiency standards

• upright glass door freezers must achieve 57% less energy use than 2010

standard; horizontal sold door ice cream freezers: 53% less energy use; bottle

coolers: 48% less energy use

usa: policy trends

closing remarks

‣ hydrocarbons in domestic refrigeration are a standard in

most of world regions, but some are facing policy & market

challenges

‣ technology innovations in domestic refrigeration have

impact on other sectors, such as light commercial refrigeration

‣ ambitious policy action drives innovation, leads to increased

availability, gradually reducing cost of equipment using natural

refrigerants

contact details:

Klára Skačanová klara.skacanova@shecco.com office: +32 2 230 3700

Industry Platforms:

http://www.hydrocarbons21.com

http://www.R744.com

http://www.ammonia21.com

http://www.R718.com

ATMOsphere conferences, side-events & network meetings:

http://www.ATMO.org

shecco Publications, incl. GUIDEs

http://publications.shecco.com

Accelerate Magazine

http://accelerate.shecco.com

shecco - useful links

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