Commercial refrigeration: how to choose the right refrigerant amidst regulatory constraints and system challenges.

In the commercial refrigeration industry, refrigerant selection has become one of the most complex and strategic design decisions.

The progressive elimination of high-GWP gases , combined with the evolution of European regulations and increasingly stringent safety requirements, is pushing HVAC/R designers and operators to evaluate alternative solutions that balance environmental sustainability, system reliability, and operational continuity.

In this scenario, there is no universally valid choice: each refrigerant brings with it advantages and critical issues that must be analyzed based on the specific application.

CO₂, A2L and hydrocarbons: a comparison of application scenarios

The main alternatives currently adopted in commercial refrigeration are structured around three families of refrigerants, each with a direct impact on the design, management of the system and the skills required:

• CO₂ (R744) : a well-established solution in centralized systems for large-scale retail trade and supermarkets, thanks to its GWP of 1 and a stable regulatory framework. However, high operating pressures and leak management require a high level of specialization during the design, installation, and maintenance phases.
• A2L refrigerants : characterized by low GWP and mild flammability, they represent an increasingly popular transitional solution in the commercial sector. Their use requires careful consideration of charge limits, room ventilation, and detection systems, making safety design central.
• Hydrocarbons (e.g. R290) : they offer high thermodynamic performance and minimal environmental impact, but are constrained by stringent charge limits and well-defined application contexts, often oriented towards plug-in systems or installations with reduced charges.

Beyond GWP: Technical criteria for an informed choice

Refrigerant selection cannot be based solely on GWP . Key factors include system architecture, maintenance complexity, operating costs, long-term reliability, and available field expertise.

A system designed for CO₂ requires a trained technical supply chain and careful pressure management, while a system based on A2L or hydrocarbons requires rigorous safety protocols and continuous staff training.

Environmental sustainability must therefore be viewed alongside operational sustainability, to avoid solutions that, while virtuous on paper, are difficult to manage over the plant's life cycle.

The challenge for refrigeration professionals

For designers, installers and maintenance technicians, the real issue is not choosing “the best refrigerant”, but identifying the solution best suited to the application context , climatic conditions, available skills and the needs of the end customer.

In a constantly evolving sector, the ability to stay up-to-date on technologies, understand regulatory constraints, and translate them into concrete system choices becomes a competitive factor. The commercial refrigeration of the future requires increasingly sustainable solutions, but also robust, safe, and manageable designs, built on informed technical decisions.