Based on the current regulatory timetable to phase out high GWP refrigerants, customers need to be assessing alternatives today.
The warning was delivered by Bitzer CTO, Rainer Grosse-Kracht, at the company's biannual roadshow in Sydney.
From July 1, 2016, Grosse-Kracht said R404a can no longer be used in supermarket applications and in Australia the phaseout of R22 begins on January 1, 2016. By 2021, he said most refrigerants will be flammable.
“It's time to decide whether to seek out a medium term solution or leap frog to a long term alternative,” Grosse-Kracht said.
“Reduced GWP means increased flammability which is why industry needs to intensify education and training in flammable refrigerants.
“R32 and R410a are only medium term solutions. What will stay long term? C02, ammonia, water, hydrocarbons, HFOs and HFO blends.
“This is why we are working hard to extend our product offerings for naturals.”
Describing Australia's carbon tax as “the most progressive levy in the world”, Grosse-Kracht said its removal has impacted customer decisions.
In Australia, Bitzer's engineering manager for compressor systems, Ian Suffield, said there has been examples of customers choosing higher GWP gases once the carbon tax was removed.
“For smaller organisations it is about the bottom line, even a $10,000 price difference can determine a project. A customer will choose the lowest price,” he said.