China is accelerating its transition to low GWP refrigerants in line with the Kigali Amendment and its national Green Cooling Action Plan.
The country has frozen HFC consumption at 2024 levels and will begin its first reduction step in 2029, while rolling out sector specific bans on high GWP refrigerants through 2026 to 2030.
This development is driving strong demand for efficient, future proof solutions across the HVACR industry, according to BITZER’s chief sales & marketing officer, Martin Büchsel.
“China’s transformation towards a low‑carbon, energy‑efficient and digital economy is creating new opportunities across many industries,” he said.
“Beyond opening new markets, the company is also strengthening existing business by improving efficiency and competitiveness – for example through advanced refrigeration technologies such as an extended scroll portfolio and innovations like the new 2‑stage screw compressor.”
BITZER is currently participating in the China Refrigeration Expo 2026 taking place in Beijing.
This is where BITZER is showcasing its new SHST 2-stage screw compressors which are designed for low temperature applications such as blast freezing and freeze-drying.
Featuring double-slider technology and automatic Vi adjustment, they provide a wide capacity modulation range and maintain high efficiency under varying loads and operating conditions.
Optimised for low GWP refrigerants, it supports reliable long-term operation in view of upcoming GWP restrictions after 2029.
The compressor features two permanent magnet motors, each with an independent variable speed drive (VSD).
Individual Vi adaptation on both compression stages ensures high efficiency across a wide operating range. The SHST series comprises three models with displacements from 250 to 1350 m³/h at 50 Hz and allows evaporation temperatures down to −65 °C.
Büchsel said the new BITZER SHST 2-stage screw compressor series originates from a newly established joint venture between BITZER China and Xinlei: BITZER Two Stages (Shanghai) Compressor Co., Ltd.
He said the formation of this joint venture and the introduction of the SHST series will strengthen BITZER’s presence in the China-based market.
BITZER is also showcasing screw compressors for data centre cooling. Designed for operation with various refrigerants, including the low GWP refrigerant R1234ze(E), the CSW105 compact screw compressors deliver up to 4 MW of cooling capacity in a tandem configuration, making them suitable for hyperscale data centres.
Büchsel pointed out that China isn’t alone in its transition to low GWP refrigerants.
Europe is moving decisively toward minimal use of high GWP fluorinated gases under the new F Gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573, which tightened quotas, extended product bans and operator obligations.
In parallel, the EU’s PFAS restriction dossier under REACH is under development, with an opinion published last week and final EU Commission decision expected by the end of 2026 – a process that could further limit certain fluorinated chemistries depending on risk control and derogations.