Held on 28 June, ATMOsphere Bangkok 2013 provided an overview of global trends for moving towards natural refrigerant solutions. The main conclusions of the UNIDO ATMOsphere Technology Summit, as well as global natural refrigerant market trends were both outlined in presentations by UNIDO and shecco. AHT, the supplier of HC-based cabinets, stressed the cost benefits of using hydrocarbons, while the Green Cooling Association highlighted the effect of the Australian HFC levy on the uptake of natur
Titled "Natural Refrigerant Solutions - Policy drivers and examples from around the globe," ATMOsphere Bangkok 2013, a side event to the 33rd Open-Ending Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, was held on 28 June in Bangkok, Thailand. It targeted climate negotiators and industry representatives looking for low-GWP, technologically viable, safe and energy efficient alternatives to replace HCFCs in developing countries. The event attracted over 80 participants and discussions provided an update on market trends and policy developments, as well as real-life technology examples.
UNIDO ATMOsphere main outcomes and next steps
Mr. Sidi Menad Si Ahmed from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) summarised the key outcomes of the UNIDO ATMOsphere Technology Summit, which was held in June 2013. One of the main conclusions of the conference was that natural refrigerants have the potential to become a mainstream option worldwide and that several factors act as a driving force in encouraging their use. Such factors include direct and indirect environmental impact, efficiency and reliability, as well as training, know-how and safety considerations. While high-ambient temperatures represent a challenge for the refrigeration and air-conditioning sectors, UNEP and UNIDO are currently implementing a demonstration project with the participation of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to assess the effectiveness of 4 low-GWP alternatives in high ambient climate.
Whilst the conference provided an already good platform for discussion, shecco and UNIDO have collaborated for the launching of a global survey to identify trends in developing countries. This survey will be part of the Guide UNIDO, together with best practice examples due to be published in autumn 2013 ahead of the Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in October 2013.
Natural refrigerant global market trends
Regulations, policies and voluntary actions of end-users are the key motivating factors that underpin the introduction of natural refrigerant solutions around the globe. A snapshot of the latest market trends in different regions was presented by Marc Chasserot from shecco. With a goal of staying competitive in the future marketplace, hundreds of manufacturers are developing solutions with natural refrigerants while improving energy efficiency and reducing the cost of the technology. Already today, 90% of industrial refrigeration in developed and 40% in developing countries deploys HFC-free technology. In the sector of light-commercial refrigeration, approximately 2.5 million HFC-free units are already in place, while around 113 retail brands globally are looking at CO2 transcritical systems for supermarket refrigeration, a technology that has been applied in approximately 1,800 stores across the world to date.
In addition, there are number of pioneering projects using ammonia, CO2 and hydrocarbons in developing countries such as hydrocarbon AC & refrigeration in Indonesia, CO2 cascade systems in Brazil or R290 residential AC in China and India. Adding to this, Mr. Dilip Rajadhyaska from Godrej noted that a ten-fold growth in the company’s production of hydrocarbon room ACs in India as compared to last year is a proof of an increased interest in this kind of technology in developing countries.
AHT’s TCO calculation shows HC plug-in unit 3 times less costly than remote system
With production facilities in Austria and China, AHT has successfully grown its business with hydrocarbon-based refrigeration cabinets around the world. In her presentation, Sumitra Eksithichai from AHT stressed that with plug-in cabinets significant energy savings can be achieved as compared to remote systems, with over 60% reduction in running costs compared to open top freezers. Thanks to the low energy consumption of a hydrocarbon-based AHT cabinet (78 kW/24h) as compared to a reference remote unit with glass doors (204kW/24h) and low maintenance costs, the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the AHT cabinet over 10 years is estimated to be approximately three times lower, making it much more attractive not only in developing, but also in developed countries. So far AHT has put more than 530.000 of these cabinets on the market in Korea, USA, Germany, China, Thailand and other regions.
HFC levy driving introduction of hydrocarbons
The effects of the CO2 equivalent carbon price levy in Australia was highlighted in a presentation by Brent Hoare from Green Cooling Association. Even though only a year has passed since its introduction in July 2012, the HFC levy has already had effect on the rollout of natural refrigerant-based technology. While demand for HyChill hydrocarbon refrigerants has registered steady growth over the last decade, sales increased rapidly last year. Another Australian-owned manufacturer of hydrocarbon air-conditioners, Pioneer International AC, has also benefited from the newly introduced price on HFCs.
UNIDO ATMOsphere main outcomes and next steps
Mr. Sidi Menad Si Ahmed from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) summarised the key outcomes of the UNIDO ATMOsphere Technology Summit, which was held in June 2013. One of the main conclusions of the conference was that natural refrigerants have the potential to become a mainstream option worldwide and that several factors act as a driving force in encouraging their use. Such factors include direct and indirect environmental impact, efficiency and reliability, as well as training, know-how and safety considerations. While high-ambient temperatures represent a challenge for the refrigeration and air-conditioning sectors, UNEP and UNIDO are currently implementing a demonstration project with the participation of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, to assess the effectiveness of 4 low-GWP alternatives in high ambient climate.
Whilst the conference provided an already good platform for discussion, shecco and UNIDO have collaborated for the launching of a global survey to identify trends in developing countries. This survey will be part of the Guide UNIDO, together with best practice examples due to be published in autumn 2013 ahead of the Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in October 2013.
Natural refrigerant global market trends
Regulations, policies and voluntary actions of end-users are the key motivating factors that underpin the introduction of natural refrigerant solutions around the globe. A snapshot of the latest market trends in different regions was presented by Marc Chasserot from shecco. With a goal of staying competitive in the future marketplace, hundreds of manufacturers are developing solutions with natural refrigerants while improving energy efficiency and reducing the cost of the technology. Already today, 90% of industrial refrigeration in developed and 40% in developing countries deploys HFC-free technology. In the sector of light-commercial refrigeration, approximately 2.5 million HFC-free units are already in place, while around 113 retail brands globally are looking at CO2 transcritical systems for supermarket refrigeration, a technology that has been applied in approximately 1,800 stores across the world to date.
In addition, there are number of pioneering projects using ammonia, CO2 and hydrocarbons in developing countries such as hydrocarbon AC & refrigeration in Indonesia, CO2 cascade systems in Brazil or R290 residential AC in China and India. Adding to this, Mr. Dilip Rajadhyaska from Godrej noted that a ten-fold growth in the company’s production of hydrocarbon room ACs in India as compared to last year is a proof of an increased interest in this kind of technology in developing countries.
AHT’s TCO calculation shows HC plug-in unit 3 times less costly than remote system
With production facilities in Austria and China, AHT has successfully grown its business with hydrocarbon-based refrigeration cabinets around the world. In her presentation, Sumitra Eksithichai from AHT stressed that with plug-in cabinets significant energy savings can be achieved as compared to remote systems, with over 60% reduction in running costs compared to open top freezers. Thanks to the low energy consumption of a hydrocarbon-based AHT cabinet (78 kW/24h) as compared to a reference remote unit with glass doors (204kW/24h) and low maintenance costs, the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the AHT cabinet over 10 years is estimated to be approximately three times lower, making it much more attractive not only in developing, but also in developed countries. So far AHT has put more than 530.000 of these cabinets on the market in Korea, USA, Germany, China, Thailand and other regions.
HFC levy driving introduction of hydrocarbons
The effects of the CO2 equivalent carbon price levy in Australia was highlighted in a presentation by Brent Hoare from Green Cooling Association. Even though only a year has passed since its introduction in July 2012, the HFC levy has already had effect on the rollout of natural refrigerant-based technology. While demand for HyChill hydrocarbon refrigerants has registered steady growth over the last decade, sales increased rapidly last year. Another Australian-owned manufacturer of hydrocarbon air-conditioners, Pioneer International AC, has also benefited from the newly introduced price on HFCs.
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By Ginta Vanaga
Jul 05, 2013, 15:57
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