European Commission: F-gases remain central to refrigeration and air conditioning systems

A recent European Commission report highlighted the continued significant role of fluorinated gases (F-gases) in the refrigeration and air conditioning sectors . Despite emission reduction policies and the progressive phase-out of HFCs, these refrigerants continue to be widely used in many HVAC/R applications, primarily due to their technical performance and the widespread use of existing infrastructure.

This topic is particularly relevant for the refrigeration sector, which is currently managing a complex transition to low-climate refrigerants while maintaining energy efficiency and operational safety.

The weight of F-gases in the HVAC/R sector

F-gases include several categories of fluorinated gases , including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which account for approximately 90% of the total of these gases used in industrial applications.

These refrigerants have been adopted over time as an alternative to HCFCs and other ozone-depleting gases, finding widespread use in the systems of:

• commercial and industrial refrigeration
• air conditioning
• heat pumps and HVAC systems

However, due to their global warming potential (GWP), the European Union has introduced a series of measures in recent years to progressively reduce their use and encourage the transition to more sustainable technologies.

European regulations and the progressive reduction of HFCs

The European strategy for the reduction of F-gases is mainly based on the F-Gas Regulation , which provides for a system of progressive reduction in the quantities of HFCs placed on the market.

From 2015 to 2024, the availability of HFCs in the European Union was reduced by 45%, contributing to a significant decrease in overall F-gas emissions.

The regulation also introduces increasingly stringent restrictions on certain applications and encourages the adoption of lower GWP or natural refrigerants , such as CO₂, ammonia and hydrocarbons.

Towards low climate impact refrigerants

The report highlights how the refrigeration sector is progressively moving towards alternative solutions to high-GWP F-gases, although the transition process will require time and investment.

Among the main development directions emerge:

• diffusion of natural refrigerants such as CO₂ (R744), ammonia (R717) and propane (R290)
• development of more energy-efficient HVAC/R technologies
• Updating technical skills for the management of new refrigerants

In this context, the challenge for the cold chain will be to balance environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and operational reliability, while ensuring technological continuity across the various application sectors.