MOMENTUM GROWS FOR REFRIGERANTS WITH LOW GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL

Fluctuating environmental policies in the US tend to obscure the fact that the transition toward refrigerants with a low global warming potential (GWP) continues. HVACR manufacturers, researchers, and facility owners worldwide are making significant progress thanks to consistent public policies but also from recent development of proven technologies. Technologically, it's worth looking at recent moves away from refrigerants with high GWPs and toward low-GWP formulations, like natural hydrocarbons (HCs) and hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) with GWPs below 5. The HFOs have a low GWP because they break down in the atmosphere over a few days. Furthermore, HFOs, together with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), form low-GWP hybrids that have GWP ratings below 150. Innovation is the key that is unlocking the potential of the new refrigerants to create a low-GWP future. Important developments include utilizing the thermodynamics of CO2 refrigerant -- specifically, its expansion energy and heating properties -- to make CO2 even more feasible for commercial refrigeration, the ongoing decarbonizing of the electric power supply, and boosting flexibility in electric consumption with demand response and thermal storage technologies. These developments are driving forward the adoption of low-GWP refrigerants in food and commercial refrigeration today.