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BOC's (South Pacific) packaged gases manager, Anna Condell, examines the shift to a new generation of refrigerants and explains why HFOs are set to become the new industry standard.

The recent announcement from the Australian Government confirming that HFC imports will be phased down from January 2018 is welcome news for suppliers like us; and the environment too, with an 85 per cent reduction in HFC emissions expected by 2036 equating to around 80 million tonnes.

Not only is this a significant step forward in Australia’s plans to reduce greenhouse gases, it has presented the perfect opportunity for the refrigerant and air-conditioning industry to work together, invest and prepare the market for the next generation of refrigerants – hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs).

As countries around the world look for suitable alternatives to HFCs, HFOs are set to become the new industry standard. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is also in consideration as a potential substitute; a number of supermarkets have already shifted to CO2 for their refrigeration systems, but the technology doesn’t yet exist for numerous systems that are more readily commercially available. At present, HFOs remain the best option for most businesses and consumers alike.

However, the distinctive chemical structure of HFO R1234yf means that existing HFC or HCFC systems can’t be retrofitted to utilise it, so an outright ban on HFCs would be premature at this stage. New technologies and applications are constantly being developed that cater to HFOs. Over the course of the next several years or so, BOC will be prepared for growing demand of these refrigerants, as more and more businesses phase out the use of HFC-oriented products in both design and construction.

Europe is already leading the way, having enacted bans on HFC use in new car manufacturing. With Australia’s Toyota and Holden factories set to close production in 2017, imported cars from Asia are already on the rise, Australia has a great opportunity to make a leap forward with technology by supporting the uptake of these new refrigerants. This will future-proof a large sector of the refrigerant industry, and make positive steps to addressing the environmental issues that older refrigerant gases have caused.

The Government has already outlined the basis for quota allocations for future HFC imports into Australia. A gradual phasedown is planned by periodically reducing import quotas so that businesses and consumers will have time to replace their legacy systems. The good news is there are a number of new and more environmentally-friendly HFC and HFO blended refrigerant products which are becoming available for replacing high global warming potential HFCs in existing systems.

As the industry continues its evolution, one thing is for certain, refrigerant reclamation and recycling services are going to be even more vital in the near future. The transition to newer refrigerants will only be successful if the industry safely disposes of HFCs and HCFCs. BOC is already offering refrigerant reclamation services in Australia and New Zealand. Working with Recovery in New Zealand last year, we collected 535 kilograms of refrigerant and have increased the number of drop-off points this year.

By partnering with suppliers, technicians and other industry specialists, BOC aims to push forward innovation and encourage adoption of new technology in the field. With the Australian Government committed to a reduction of greenhouse gases of 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030, taking early steps to support next-generation refrigerants will be increasingly crucial.

About the Author - Anna Condell is Packaged Gases Manager at BOC South Pacific. She works closely with the HVAC&R industry to bring new refrigerant products and solutions to market. BOC is a member of Refrigerant Australia and Refrigerant Reclaim Australia.