The European Commission published two reports on Wednesday 30 September outlining more climate-friendly alternatives to the fluorinated greenhouse gases ('F-gas') used in split-system air-conditioning and switchgear.
According to these reports, it appears to be technically feasible to use propane as a refrigerant, rather than fluorinated gases, in new split-system air-conditioning systems, provided that these systems have a cooling capacity of less than 7 kilowatt hours (kW) and that legislation or national codes do not prohibit the use of propane.
Propane (R-290) units are energy efficient and are available at a slightly higher price, which would likely decrease if they were produced and marketed on a large scale, the Commission believes.
For split system air conditioning systems with a cooling capacity greater than 7 kW, the institution recommends the use of difluoromethane (R32).
Even though it is a fluorinated gas, its climate impact is only a third of that of the commonly used R410A gas, with comparable or even better energy and economic efficiency, the report points out.
As far as electrical switchgear is concerned, the gas generally used, sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), has a warming effect almost 23,000 times greater than that of carbon dioxide (CO2), the Commission points out.
While alternatives have recently become available on the market for some applications up to 24 kilovolts (kV), the report notes that it will take time for manufacturers to develop the full range of products and build the production capacity needed to serve the entire market.
Both reports are being published under the EU Regulation (517/2014) which aims to protect the environment from the impact of fluorinated gases by, among other things, imposing conditions on the placing on the market of certain products and equipment containing or relying on these gases, as well as setting out rules on the containment, use, recovery and destruction of these gases.
The Commission intends to propose a new regulation on fluorinated gases by the end of 2021.
See reports: https://bit.ly/3ifjRY7; https://bit.ly/3iiKT0E (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)