Industrial refrigerants: New regulations, recommendations

François Zuber - Mission d'Intérêt Général - August 2024 

European regulations on the production and use of refrigerants are fairly complex, and were updated in February 2024. It defines :  

• fluids that can be used but will be progressively banned, with a progressive timetable for eviction


• rules applying to owners and operators of refrigeration machines (obligation to detect leaks, maintenance, traceability of fluids used, operator training, etc.).


• the rules applying to specialized companies handling fluids, refrigeration specialists, fluid manufacturers, fluid recyclers, etc. (a complex system of sales quotas has been set up to enable the maintenance of installations using refrigerants that are gradually being withdrawn from the European market).

 

Two regulations have been updated:

1 ) The Regulation (EU) 2024/573 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 February 2024 on fluorinated greenhouse gases, amending Directive (EU) 2019/1937 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 (europa.eu) 

(Commonly referred to as the "F-Gas Regulation", the new the new 2024 version is referred to as F-Gas-III):  

Aims to contain, prevent and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases fluorinated fluids covered by the Kyoto Protocol. As a result, it organizes the gradual phase-out of Hydro-Fluoro-Carbons (HFCs), with the aim of reducing their consumption by 79% between 2015 and 2030.  

In particular, article 11 states :   

"  1. The placing on the market of products and equipment, (...), listed in Annex IV, (...), is prohibited from the date specified in the said annex, with, where appropriate, distinctions based on the type of gas they contain or the global warming potential of that gas.  

By way of derogation from the first paragraph, the placing on the market of parts of products and equipment required for repair and maintenance of existing equipment listed in Annex IV is authorized (under certain conditions)

This means that refrigeration systems used in the food industry will have to use refrigerants with a GWP below specified thresholds (less than 150 for some systems). The refrigerants listed in Annex IV of the Regulation may no longer be used for new refrigeration equipment, but remain partially authorized for the maintenance of existing installations.and according to a pre-established eviction schedule between 2006 and 2035, according to their Global Warming Potential (GWP). 

 

2 ) Regulation (EU) 2024/590 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 February 2024 on substances that deplete the ozone layer and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1005/2009. 

Who is to eventually eliminate all fluids that present a risk of corrosion. ozone-depleting potential or Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). This value is related to the historical fluid R11, the reference CFC (ODP = 1.00). transcribes the prohibitions and obligations under the Montreal Protocol (1987).   

In particular (Article 4):   

Bans on ozone-depleting substances 

1. The production, placing on the market, any subsequent supply to a third party or making available to a third party within the Union, whether in return for payment or free of charge, and the use of ozone-depleting substances listed in in Annex I are prohibited. [with a few targeted exemptions]


2. The import and export of the ozone-depleting substances listed in Annex I are prohibited. [with a few targeted exemptions]. In summary, the following are banned : a large number of Chloro-Fluoro-Carbons (CFCs; the term carbide designates: methane, ethane, propane), substances of the same type, where bromine replaces chlorine in whole or in part, bromine-based Halons, a large number of Hydro-Chloro-Fluoro- Carbides (HCFCs)

 

What are the alternatives and what is the replacement schedule?

Since 2022, the F-Gas regulation requires mandatory phase-out of refrigerants with a GWP of over 150 for new installations. This is the case for fluorinated gases (R134a, R407F, R410a...). Since February 2024, the third version of F-Gas has further tightened restrictions and bans.  

Faced with their gradual ban, alternative solutions exist to replace HFC fluids, including the following:  

• natural" refrigerants such as ammonia (NH3), carbon dioxide (CO2) and propane (R290).


• In certain cases, the use of Hydro-Fluoro-Olefin HFO fluids such as R-1234-ze (GWP = 4),
  R-1233zd (GWP = 1) may be considered.

Replacement fluids will include HFOs, R32 (difluoromethane) and natural refrigerants.  

The document Extraits_rapport_alternatives_HFC (ecologie.gouv.fr) presents a partial inventory of alternative refrigerants. 

Hydrofluorocarbons can be used until 2030 (3 ban deadlines are scheduled):  

• Until 2025 it will still be possible to use HFC refrigerants with a GWP > 2500.


• A partir du 1er janvier 2025 et d’ici 2030, il sera possible d’utiliser les HFC avec un GWP > 150 mais < 2500


• Après 1er janvier 2030, seuls les fluides avec un GWP < 150 seront autorisés

Caution: Under the new F-Gas III rules (see regulations section), consumption of hydrofluorocarbon HFC refrigerants will be completely phased out by 2050. 

 

Alternatives beyond 2030 :

For a refrigerant to be authorized for use in refrigeration systems beyond 2030, it must have a GWP of less than 150. This is the case for the fluids below.  

For the food industry, low-flammability, non-toxic refrigerants are often recommended = A2L category. The complexity of their installation and/or their risks of use mean that some refrigerants are preferable to others.  

Carbon dioxide (CO2) designated R 744 and ammonia (NH3) designated R 717 are moving closer to meeting the requirements of the new refrigerant regulations in 2024. Their use is becoming increasingly widespread in the professional refrigeration and air-conditioning sector. 

Table of examples of alternatives beyond 2030