The refrigeration industry is in the midst of a profound technological transition. The hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant gases that have dominated the sector for three decades — R-404A, R-134a, R-410A — are being progressively phased out by European regulation. Their replacement with lower climate-impact alternatives is not optional: it is a legal obligation with concrete deadlines and real consequences for businesses that fail to adapt in time.
This article explains what the F-Gas Regulation establishes, the phase-down timeline, what natural alternatives exist and what businesses with refrigeration or HVAC equipment need to do right now.
What is the F-Gas Regulation and why does it exist?
EU Regulation 517/2014, known as the F-Gas Regulation, was adopted by the European Union to reduce emissions of fluorinated greenhouse gases. These gases, used massively as refrigerants, have a Global Warming Potential (GWP) thousands of times greater than that of CO2.
To grasp the scale of the problem: R-404A — the most widely used refrigerant in commercial and industrial refrigeration over the past 20 years — has a GWP of 3,922. This means that 1 kg of R-404A released into the atmosphere has the same greenhouse effect as 3,922 kg of CO2. A refrigerant leak in an industrial refrigeration system can be equivalent to the emissions of several cars for an entire year.
In 2024, EU Regulation 2024/573 came into force, updating and significantly tightening the conditions of the earlier F-Gas Regulation, accelerating the phase-down schedule for HFCs with the highest GWP.
The phase-down schedule
The primary mechanism of the F-Gas Regulation is the phase-down: a progressive reduction of the total quantity of HFCs that can be placed on the EU market, measured in tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). This limit is reduced year on year following an established timetable.
The practical effect is an increasingly limited supply and a rising price for high-GWP HFC gases. R-404A has already experienced very significant price increases and will continue to become more expensive until its practical elimination.
Application-specific bans
In addition to the general phase-down, the regulation establishes specific bans for certain uses from set dates:
- From 2020: Ban on using gases with GWP > 2,500 for maintenance of existing refrigeration equipment (with an exception for recovered and recycled gases until 2030).
- From 2022: Ban on installing new commercial refrigeration equipment using gases with GWP > 150 (specific categories).
- From 2025: Ban on centralised commercial refrigeration equipment with GWP > 150 for capacities above 40 kW.
- Progressively through 2030 and 2032: Extension of bans to more equipment categories and uses.
The regulatory message is clear: high-GWP HFC gases have a limited future, and businesses that do not plan the transition now will be forced to do so under worse conditions — with greater urgency, fewer available specialist technicians and higher costs.
Global Warming Potential: refrigerant comparison
To understand the magnitude of the change, it is useful to compare the GWP values of the most common gases with those of natural alternatives:
| Refrigerant | Type | GWP (100-year) | Regulatory status |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-404A | HFC | 3,922 | Being phased out |
| R-410A | HFC | 2,088 | Being phased out |
| R-134a | HFC | 1,430 | Progressive restrictions |
| R-407C | HFC | 1,774 | Being phased out |
| R-32 | HFC | 675 | Transitional (GWP limit 750) |
| R-290 (propane) | Natural | 3 | No F-Gas restrictions |
| R-744 (CO2) | Natural | 1 | No F-Gas restrictions |
| R-717 (ammonia) | Natural | 0 | No F-Gas restrictions |
| R-600a (isobutane) | Natural | 3 | No F-Gas restrictions |
Natural refrigerants have a virtually negligible GWP compared with HFCs and are not subject to F-Gas Regulation restrictions. This is the fundamental reason for their growing adoption in the industry.
The main natural refrigerants
R-744: CO2 as a refrigerant
Carbon dioxide (CO2, designated R-744) is one of the most promising solutions for commercial and industrial refrigeration. Its key characteristics:
- GWP of 1: The climate impact from leaks is essentially nil.
- High heat density: Allows for more compact equipment.
- High operating pressure: Requires purpose-designed components and greater rigour in installation, but the technology is now fully mature.
- Optimal efficiency in cold climates: In warm climates such as the Mediterranean, transcritical systems with economisers are used to maintain efficiency.
CO2 as a refrigerant is well established in major food distribution chains throughout Europe, and systems are already operational in the Valencian Community. Installation cost is somewhat higher than that of conventional HFC systems, but it eliminates regulatory risk and escalating gas prices.
R-290: propane
Propane (R-290) is the most widely used natural alternative in small and medium-capacity commercial refrigeration. Its advantages:
- GWP of 3: Practically climate-neutral.
- Excellent thermodynamic properties: Efficiency comparable to or better than the HFCs it replaces.
- Wide availability and low cost: Unlike fluorinated gases, propane is not subject to quotas or marketing restrictions.
- Compatibility: Many manufacturers offer equipment specifically designed for R-290.
The main limitation of propane is its flammability (A3 classification). Its use is permitted with specific charge limits per system and requires appropriate safety measures: ventilation, gas detectors and installation by qualified technicians. European (EN 378) and Spanish standards precisely regulate the conditions for safe use.
R-717: ammonia
Ammonia (NH3, R-717) is the most thermodynamically efficient natural refrigerant and has a history of industrial use spanning more than 100 years. It is the standard in large-capacity industrial refrigeration: industrial cold stores, food processing plants, ice-making facilities.
Its characteristics:
- GWP of 0: No climate impact.
- Outstanding efficiency: Ammonia has the best thermodynamic performance of all industrial refrigerants.
- Easy leak detection: Its characteristic smell means leaks are immediately detectable.
- Toxicity: It is toxic at high concentrations, which requires detection systems and specific safety protocols. It is not suitable for installations in areas with public access without appropriate safeguards.
For medium and large-capacity industrial installations in the Valencian Community, ammonia remains the option with the highest efficiency and lowest long-term operating cost.
What businesses should do now
Audit the existing equipment fleet
The first step is to know exactly which refrigerants are used in each item of equipment, what their GWP values are and what their regulatory status is. Many businesses have equipment running on R-404A or R-407C that can no longer be recharged with virgin gas and that will become difficult to maintain in the coming years.
Plan a phased replacement
Not all equipment needs to be replaced at once. A smart strategy involves identifying the equipment with the greatest regulatory risk or highest consumption, prioritising it for renewal and planning the transition in several phases, taking each replacement as an opportunity to choose the most appropriate alternative.
Invest in training and certification
Handling natural refrigerants — especially propane and ammonia — requires specific training that goes beyond the standard F-Gas certification. Installation and maintenance companies also need to adapt.
Keep proper records of all interventions
The F-Gas Regulation requires a log of all interventions on equipment containing fluorinated gases: leak checks, recharges, recoveries. These records can be demanded during administrative inspections. With natural gases the documentation burden is lower, but the technical documentation of the installation must still be in order.
The transition as an opportunity
The transition to low-GWP refrigerants is not just a regulatory burden: it is an opportunity to modernise installations, improve energy efficiency and reduce long-term operating costs. Systems using natural refrigerants are designed with current technology and can seamlessly integrate modern controls, remote monitoring and advanced energy management.
At Acoval we have been working on industrial refrigeration installations in Valencia and understand first-hand the challenges of this transition. We can help you assess the condition of your current installation, plan the migration to alternative refrigerants and execute the project with full technical and documentary guarantees.
If you want to learn which options are most suitable for your business, contact our team through the contact page. No obligation and a response within 24 hours.
