The world's Largest HFO-1234yf production facility has commenced operations in Corpus Christi, Texas.
The Chemours Company yesterday announced the startup of the new Opteon YF (HFO-1234yf) low global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerant production facility at its Corpus Christi manufacturing plant in the United States.
This facility will enable Chemours to triple the global capacity of its hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) 1234yf-based products to meet increasing market demands for more environmentally sustainable refrigerants and blends, according to company president and CEO, Mark Vergnano.
"The startup completes the final phase of the $300 million project we started in 2016, which triples supply capacity of Opteon YF across multiple industries and applications," he said.
“This milestone is a tangible example of our steadfast commitment to providing the world with low GWP refrigerant products that are better for the environment."
The Opteon YF (HFO-1234yf) refrigerant production facility is the largest such facility in the world. It comes at a critical time when the world is transitioning to the next generation of refrigerants to achieve long-term sustainability.
Vergnano said its Opteon YF refrigerant used in automotive air conditioning has a GWP that is 99.9% lower than the refrigerant it replaced.
“This helps lower the greenhouse gas footprint for motor vehicles and is a significant path to meeting environmental global-warming regulations around the world,” he said.
The expanded capacity will also enable Chemours to meet the growing need for next-generation refrigerants in stationary air conditioning, refrigeration, and chillers, according to Chemours fluoroproducts president, Paul Kirsch.
"Our US facility reinforces our commitment to meet the needs of our mobile and stationary refrigerant customers through unmatched capacity, capability, and quality,” he said.
“This also means our production facilities will be closer to our customers in North America and Europe, as well as around the world."
This investment to build world-scale manufacturing capability has resulted in hundreds of US jobs ranging from R&D, manufacturing, construction support, and associated businesses that supply the new manufacturing plant.
The Corpus Christi site uses an innovative, patented process to manufacture Opteon YF for automotive air conditioning and refrigerant blends that are used across a range of applications.
This ongoing innovation by Chemours has consistently positioned its fluorochemicals business as a leader in refrigerant solutions for nearly 90 years, the company said in a statement.
The low GWP refrigerants market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of 11.7 per cent from 2018 to 2023.
In its latest research report MarketsandMarkets said the market which was valued at $US16.5 billion last year will top $US28.7 billion by 2023.
The major factors driving the Low GWP refrigerants market are the low environmental impact of low GWP refrigerants, phasing out of CFC, HCFC, and HFC refrigerants, and the increasing demand for refrigerants and air conditioners across the globe, the report said.
The hydrocarbon segment of the Low GWP refrigerants market is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
In the report, the low GWP refrigerants market is segmented into three categories – inorganics, hydrocarbons and fluorocarbons.
MarketsandMarkets said hydrocarbons will lead the market bcause it has excellent thermodynamic properties and refrigerating and air-conditioning systems using these substances are highly energy-efficient.
Europe is expected to be the largest Low GWP refrigerants market during the forecast period.