Recent paper lays out the succinct case for hydrocarbons as an alternative to HCFCs/HFCs in developing countries

As the phase-out of production and consumption of HCFCs in developing countries has been settled and agreed since 2007, the future of the refrigerants market in developing countries is primed for change. This paper argues that as HFCs are currently not widely used in developing countries; that they have the unique opportunity to leap-frog HFCs and go straight to natural refrigerants, in particular hydrocarbons.

A recent paper by Öko-Recherche has outlined the necessity of developing countries adopting natural refrigerants. With the refrigerant and blowing agent demand in developing countries expected to triple by 2030 and the aforementioned legislature in place, there is a unique opportunity for the systematic and mass adoption of natural refrigerants within developing countries that could be the catalyst for the rest of the world to follow.

The paper puts forward some food for thought regarding the potential fluidity of the switch for developing countries, noting that:

55% of HCFCs can be replaced by natural refrigerants and foam blowing agents in the short term.
90% of HCFCs can be replaced by substances with low or moderate GWP (global warming potential)

These stats make for interesting reading, but the figures don’t tell the whole story. Developing countries have a specific aptitude to absorb the technology of natural refrigerants -in particular hydrocarbons- due to their high temperature and existing infrastructure.

The role of hydrocarbons in this prospective refrigerant revolution

At present, developing countries tend to use R22, but hydrocarbon refrigerants - such as R290 (propane)- are highly energy efficient replacements. The authors explain that the thermodynamic properties are close to R22, which means that current R22 products – such as compressors - could be re-engineered to use R290 instead.

The faint presence of serendipity looms larger when it is detailed that R290 performs extremely well at high ambient temperatures. And while these temperatures aren’t idiosyncratic of developing countries, they certainly are prevalent; as many developing countries fall around or beneath the equator.

Will developing countries be the vanguard of natural refrigerants?

In developing countries, hydrocarbons are seen as the main alternative for:

Condensing units (<5 kW)
Portable/window air conditioners
Single- split air conditioners (<7 kW)
Chillers (<150 kW)

The paper points out that hydrocarbons are already used in some of these sectors; so it is crucial that this trend continues. The paper is also forthright when it notes that these ambitions are heavily reliant on governments implementing these changes and forgoing other options.

Immediate action is required to guarantee not only lower GWP in developing countries, but also in future-proofing solutions for their o-zone depleting substances replacement. So it is imperative that action is taken, and if it is; then the ingredients are there for a real stirring of the global refrigerants market.

About Öko-Recherche

Öko-Recherche is an independent environmental research institution and consultancy located in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Since its foundation in 1995, Öko-Recherche has been working on issues related to environmental protection, chemical safety and climate protection at national as well as international level.