News
EU parliament passes EPBD update
The European Parliament has voted in favour of the trilogue deal of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) which seeks to deliver a climate-neutral building stock by 2050. Read more
KIO Networks says its new Valencia data center is Spain’s first to use 100% natural refrigerants
International information technologies provider KIO Networks announced in February 2023 that its new data center in Valencia, Spain, would be the country’s first to use 100% natural refrigerants, and now details of the CO2 (R744)-based cooling and air-conditioning systems have been shared by Danish OEM Advansor in a new case study. Read more
China’s light commercial refrigeration equipment sector will be 60% R290 by 2024, according to analysts
The share of R290 (propane) equipment in China’s light commercial refrigeration sector is forecast to reach 60% by 2024, according to Ping Yang, General Manager at China IOL, which collects data on the country’s HVAC&R industry Read more
Revised EU F-gas regulation is law
The European Union’s revised F-gas Regulation, which mandates a a complete phase out of the consumption of HFCs across the bloc by 2050 as well as specific phase-out dates for the use of HFCs and HFOs in some heating and cooling equipment, has been published in the Official Journal of the EU and will be legally enforceable as of March 11. Read more
Study finds R717/CO2 cascade refrigeration system offers 35% higher COP than R404A systems to Indian seafood processors
A new study on deep freezing in the Indian fish processing industry has found that an ammonia (NH3/R717)/CO2 (R744) cascade refrigeration system has an annual COP 35% higher than an R404A refrigeration system. Read more
Subsidies are ‘key’ for Japan’s transition to natural refrigerants, says AEON
Subsidies are “key” for Japan’s adoption of natural refrigerants like CO2 (R744) and hydrocarbons according to Masafumi Okuda, Manager of the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Department at AEON, a multinational retailer headquartered in Chiba, Japan. Read more
Lauda launches the ‘first-ever’ mobile ultra-low-temperature freezer, which uses R290 and R170
German temperature control equipment manufacturer Lauda has announced the launch of the Mobifreeze M 270, which uses propane (R290) and ethane (R170) refrigerants and is the world’s “first” mobile ultra-low-temperature chest freezer, according to the company. Read more
Scantec provides centralized low-charge ammonia system for poultry distribution warehouse in Western Australia
Scantec Refrigeration Technologies has provided a centralized low-charge ammonia/NH3 (R717) refrigeration system for a new poultry warehouse near Perth, Australia, that it says offers an estimated annual energy savings of approximately 30% compared to “a conceptually identical liquid overfeed system.” Read more
Recommendations for 2040 targets to reach climate neutrality by 2050
The Commission is charting the path to reach the goal of making the European Union climate neutral by 2050. It recommends a 90% net greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2040 compared to 1990 levels, which is in line with recent scientific advice and the EU’s commitments under the Paris Agreement. Read more
Draft emissions standard open for comment
ASHRAE and the International Code Council (ICC) has released a proposed standard for the evaluation and documentation of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) across a building’s life cycle. Read more
Cool Talks: “We need to inform, through different channels, that there are alternatives to F-gases and that these alternatives are not dangerous”
For this Cool Talk, we have had the opportunity to interview Armin Hafner, Professor in refrigeration technology at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). In 1995 he joined SINTEF, in this capacity as researcher he worked closely with NTNU on CO2, air conditioning and other refrigeration systems at that time. He became a professor at NTNU in 2016. Read more
Fluorinated gases and ozone-depleting substances: Council greenlights new rules to reduce harmful emissions
The Council today has adopted two regulations to phase down fluorinated gases (F-gases) and other substances that cause global warming and deplete the ozone layer. Read more
Enex launches ‘first-ever’ transcritical CO2 flat gas cooler rated to 140bar
Italian HVAC&R manufacturer Enex has launched what it calls the “first-ever” industrial CO2 (R744) flat gas cooler with a 140bar (2,031psi) pressure rating, calling it “a revolutionary product for transcritical systems.” Read more
Refrigerant Driving License website launched
New Qualification Programme for Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Technicians: Refrigerant Driving License available for use by National Ozone Units. Read more
EU passes F-gas revision at first reading
As expected, the revision proposal to the European F-gas regulation (517/2014) was passed at its first parliamentary reading in Strasbourg today. Read more