Regarding refrigerants, 2025 is expected to be a watershed year for the HVAC sector due to new rules based on the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. The United States and the European Union will implement new refrigerant laws on January 1st, 2025, which will encourage the adoption of less environmentally harmful refrigerants by other nations. Let's examine how the HVAC sector will be impacted by these regulatory developments.

01. Changes in Regulations

a. The European Union's F-Gas Regulation

The European Union plans to phase out Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the European market to achieve its 2030 climate goals and carbon neutrality by 2050, as part of the Paris Agreement. The regulation prohibits the manufacture, installation, and import of single-split systems containing less than 3 kg of refrigerant when using refrigerants with a GWP of more than 750 starting January 1st, 2025. This prohibition gradually extends to other HVAC products such as heat pumps from 2027 to 2035.

* http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/573/oj

b. US EPA's SNAP (Significant New Alternatives Policy) Program

The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) intends to outlaw items with a high Global Warming Potential (GWP) in order to gradually phase out ozone-depleting compounds. As part of this plan, starting on January 1st, 2025, the Technology Transitions Program forbids the production, installation, and importation of goods that use refrigerants with a GWP of more than 700. This covers commercial air conditioning systems, heat pumps, and chillers. Between 2025 and 2028, the program intends to gradually convert HVAC equipment, restricting the use of VRF systems that use refrigerants with a GWP greater than 700.

* https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction/technology-transitions-program

02. Alternatives to New Refrigerants

a. Phase-out of Old Refrigerants

The new standards call for the phase-out of R22 and R410A, two of the most widely used refrigerants. R410A has a GWP of 2088 and R22 has a GWP of 1810, both significantly greater than the new laws allow. R22 is now only allowed if recycled. The HVAC industry uses these refrigerants extensively, so the need for alternatives is increasing. Since R22 and R410A are non-flammable and generally stable, the replacements must likewise be stable, low GWP, and energy efficient.

b. R32 & R454B

Among the many choices, R32 and R454B are considered potential replacements for R410A, offering a low GWP and stability. R32, a component of R410A (and also R454B), is a single-component refrigerant with a low GWP of 675. It does not require other materials for mixing, making it a cost-effective option. As a single-component refrigerant, it is easier to recycle, adding to its environmental benefits. R454B has an even lower GWP of 466 and a similar operating pressure and discharge temperature to R410A, making it a more direct replacement. Both R32 and R454B are suitable alternatives for R410A but in different ways.

c. Natural Cooling Agents
Natural refrigerants, such R717, R744, R290, and R600a, are less expensive and have far smaller greenhouse gas footprints than synthetic refrigerants, like R32 and R454B. But because R717, R290, and R600a are more flammable, they need to be handled carefully and with extra caution. Synthetic refrigerants continue to be more efficient than natural refrigerants.

03. How Will Everyday Life and the Market Be Affected by the Regulations?

In the United States, it will be severely forbidden to manufacture items using high-GWP refrigerants; however, it will not be illegal to sell, use, or repair products made prior to 2025. Therefore, homeowners do not need to replace their HVAC systems' refrigerants right away. However, other nations will have to alter their policies in a few years due to the Kigali Amendment and the Montreal Protocol, which had an impact on the regulatory adjustments in both the US and Europe. The usage of banned refrigerants will decline due to the prohibition on selling in the US and the global trend of changing rules, which could result in an increase in their price.

A few years ago,Solareast started to adapt to these regulatory changes by using new refrigerants that are less harmful to the environment.Solareast's heat pumps are transitioning to lower GWP refrigerants and Solareast's new heat pump models use R290 with a GWP as low as 3 . Solareast's new heat pump models use R290 with a low GWP of 3. Solareast's new heat pump models use R290, for example, the R290 Monoblock heat pump, the Water Heater uses R290 refrigerant, and last but not least, the Commercial swimming pool heater uses the R32 refrigerant (GWP=675), and also uses inverter technology.

	Monoblock Heat Pump ·Refrigerant：r290
	Water Heater Heat Pump ·Refrigerant：r290
	Wall Mounted Heater Heat Pump ·Refrigerant：r290
	Swimming Pool Heat Pump ·Refrigerant：r290
	Commercial Swimming Pool Heat Pump ·Refrigerant：r290

The new regulations on refrigerants in the US and Europe aim to reduce the harmful impact of global warming. The HVAC industry is also striving to provide comfortable and clean air in both the short and long term by transitioning to products that cause less harm to the environment. As part of this industry, Solareast is contributing to the effort to bring clean air to everyday life in the long term.