Here’s a rundown of the most important news impacting CO2-based HVAC&R technology in 2018.
As we approach the new year, here’s a list of links to the most important news impacting CO2-based HVAC&R technology in 2018, as selected by our media teams in New York, Brussels and Tokyo.
Market, End Users & Technology
January
Hot Water, Courtesy of CO2
Natural refrigerants enter the North American domestic market as apartment buildings in Seattle and elsewhere install Sanden’s CO2 heat pump water heater.
China’s first transcritical CO2 store opens
METRO China celebrated the grand opening of its Beijing Lishuiqiao store on 17 January. The wholesale store is the first in China to be fitted with a transcritical CO2 system.
CO2 at heart of Delhaize’s new Urban Farm
Heat reclaimed from a transcritical CO2 refrigeration system is used to heat a rooftop greenhouse in a remodelled Delhaize supermarket in Brussels.
February
Daikin acquires Spanish CO2 system developer
Daikin Europe NV (part of Japanese multinational air-conditioning firm Daikin) has agreed to purchase leading CO2 system developer Tewis.
Middle East’s first CO2 supermarket opens in Jordan
Opened on 27 February, the store uses parallel compression and ejector technology to cope with high ambient temperatures common in the Middle East.
March
Recheio’s CO2 adventure
Portuguese cash and carry chain Recheio plans to be HFC-free – meaning 100% natural refrigerants – by 2030.
April
Panasonic unveils CO2 transcritical rack
At China Refrigeration 2018, Panasonic unveiled its first CO2 transcritical rack.
June
ALDI US, Henningsen, Source, Southern California Edison, Colmac Coil and Lara given Accelerate America awards
ATMOsphere America ceremony recognizes those that have done the most to drive natural refrigerants adoption in North America.
India’s first CO2 transcritical system
India's first CO2 transcritical system was among the presentations at June’s Gustav Lorentzen conference in Valencia.
July
What’s behind the current CO2 shortage?
R744.com takes a look at this ever-evolving story.
August
METRO opens its first CO2 transcritical store in Russia
METRO opened its first CO2 transcritical store in Russia last Thursday, near Moscow.
China's second transcritical CO2 store opens in Beijing
China's second transcritical CO2 system was installed at CSF Market which opened in July in Beijing.
Ritchies IGA supermarket installs Australia’s first transcritical CO2 ejector
A Ritchies IGA supermarket in Beechworth, Victoria, Australia has installed the country's first transcritical CO2 system with an ejector.
VW to roll out CO2 MAC in new electric car series
Volkswagen will use CO2 as the refrigerant in one electric vehicle series by the end of 2019, reports German environmental journalist Joachim Wille.
September
Casa Ley installs Mexico’s first transcritical system
The food retailer is testing the technology in the country’s hot climate.
Migros committed to natural refrigerant strategy
Swiss retailer Migros wants the vast majority of its supermarkets to use natural refrigerants by 2030 – and especially CO2.
October
Taking on Transcritical in Cold Storage
A longtime ammonia user, Henningsen Cold Storage is testing transcritical CO2 refrigeration in two locations – among the first all-CO2 industrial plants in the United States.
November
ChinaShop 2018: XingXing debuts transcritical CO2 rack
Chinese OEM Zhejiang XingXing Refrigeration's system, aimed at the Chinese food retail market, employs parallel compression and ejector technology.
Kunming Dongqi Technology develops transcritical CO2 booster rack
Chinese OEM Kunming Dongqi Technology Co., Ltd. led R744.com on a tour of its Kunming testing facility, where the company's newly developed transcritical CO2 system was on display.
Accelerate Europe announces 2018 award winners
METRO AG, Unilever, E.ON Sweden, GEA and Sergio Girotto received awards for advancing natural refrigerant adoption at an ATMOsphere Europe ceremony in November.
METRO China confirms next two transcritical CO2 stores
METRO China has confirmed details for the installation and commissioning of its next two transcritical CO2 stores, in Chongqing and Beijing, in 2019.
December
Australian retailer's third transcritical CO2 store integrates HVAC
The Woolworths store opened on 6 December and is the retailer's first to have a fully integrated HVAC&R transcritical CO2 system.
Chinese manufacturer unveils CO2 AC system for trains
Guangzhou Dinghan Railway Transportation Equipment Co. also debuts direct power supply system and an intelligent control system.
Policy, Regulations & Standards
January
2017 Chinese refrigerant prices rose dramatically
In China, components that make HFC refrigerants like fluorite and hydrofluoric acid increased sharply by 78.20% and 94.73% respectively in 2017, pushing up refrigerant prices in the Asian country.
€47 million in Japan NatRef subsidies confirmed
A €47 million budget for NatRef installation subsidies in Japan for FY2018 has been confirmed by Japan’s Ministry of Environment.
U.S. court denies request to rehear HFCs case
Court of Appeals turns down petition by NRDC, Chemours and Honeywell to rehear ruling that blocks EPA from regulating HFCs.
February
Norwegian report assesses HFOs' environmental impact
Knowledge gaps on TFA toxicity need to be addressed, it says.
April
EPA to start rule-making on HFCs
In short term, agency will follow court ruling barring it from replacing HFCs; meeting set for May 4.
May
HVAC&R firms urge Trump to refer Kigali Amendment to Senate
Letter to president signed by Hillphoenix, Danfoss North America, Emerson, Johnson Controls, Lennox International and Structural Concepts and 26 others.
June
EU’s HFC prices skyrocketing since start of F-Gas Regulation
HFC prices increased from below 2€/tCO2e to 23€/tCO2e, or more than 1,050%, according to study by Öko-Recherche on behalf of European Commission.
July
Germany warns R1234yf could cause harm to drinking water
The Federal Environment Agency argues that the degradation of this HFO into TFA could taint Germany’s water supply.
August
China to launch special ODS law enforcement campaign
China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment has announced the launch of a special Ozone Depleting Substances law enforcement campaign.
EU industry group flags illegal refrigerant trade
EU HVAC&R industry group AREA has warned of growing illegal imports and black market trade in refrigerants in some European countries.
California passes Cooling Act
Landmark legislation will incentivize natural refrigerant systems and preserve EPA deadlines for HFC replacement.
September
EPA proposes to rescind leak repair rules for HFC equipment
Section 608 requirements for leak repair and maintenance – and possibly more – would go back to applying only to ozone-depleting substances.
Connecticut joins 3 states in reducing HFCs
Nutmeg State follows California, New York and Maryland, with plans to adopt original EPA SNAP rules.
Report cites 2017 Chemours memo to EPA slamming NatRefs
In request for meeting with Pruitt, chemical company claimed natural refrigerants are being promoted by 'global competitors,' contrary to U.S. interests.
October
U.S. Supreme Court won’t hear HFCs case
High Court declines to take up appeal of Court of Appeals decision limiting EPA’s regulation of HFC – a decision authored by new justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Kigali surpasses 50 mark with EU, Mexico ratifications
Fifty-three signatories have now ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which aims to phase down HFCs globally.
December
Expert: Ammonia will return, CO2 will increase in China
Leading Chinese industrial refrigeration expert Jin Ma sees opportunities for natural refrigerants in China's cold chain sector ahead of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Dec 19, 2018, 11:50
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