Environment & Climate

In fact, the phase-out of CFCs and the adoption of HFCs replacement not only contributed to the preservation of the ozone layer, but also made a most significant and positive contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their reduction represented about four times the objective of the Kyoto Protocol. With an increasing focus on climate change, lower GWP HFCs have been adopted and HFOs/HCFOs were identified as having similar properties to HFCs but with ultra-low GWPs and are being widely used.

From CFCs to HFCs

The use of HFCs enabled the replacement of CFCs and HCFCs. Most HFCs have high GWPs (>1000) but have a good balance of safety and technical properties.

HFOs: Safety & low GWP

HFOs and HCFOs have similar safety and technical properties to the HFCs but have ultra-low or negligible GWPs and very short atmospheric lifetimes measured in days or months. Any emissions have negligible contribution to global warming. They can be used in very energy efficient equipment or provide excellent thermal insulation foam minimising energy consumption.

Innovation in HFCs

New systems continue to use lower GWP HFCs. For example, HFC-32 has a GWP of 675 and is being widely adopted as a lower GWP alternative to high GWP R-410A in new systems, particularly where HFOs or HCFOs alone do not provide the necessary technical performance. It also has improved energy efficiency, requires reduce refrigerant charge and has a relatively short atmospheric lifetime (5.2 years).

Energy Efficiency

The choice of refrigerant or insulation foam blowing agent influences the energy efficiency of refrigeration systems, and energy generation is not yet typically decarbonized (no fossil fuels). Energy efficiency is critical to overall emissions and lower GWP HFCs such as HFC 32 and the HFOs, HCFOs contribute to energy efficient systems with their good balance of safety and technical properties