Europe: Switching to propane refrigerant for space cooling could prevent a global temperature increase of 0.09°C by the end of the century, a new report says.
In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), the United Nations Environment Program and the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom used the GAINS IIASA model to compare with the R32 or propane. While switching to R32 also slowed the rise in global temperatures (0.03°C by the end of the century), propane proved to be the best solution in terms of sustainability.
Split air conditioners using propane as a low GWP alternative to R410A and R32 (or R22) are available in the Chinese and Indian markets and are said to account for about 2% of annual split air conditioner sales in India. Their use and acceptance elsewhere is often limited by building codes and standards related to flammability issues.
However, in Europe, the European Commission has proposed as part of a ban on the use of HFCs with a GWP of 150 or more in new split air conditioners and heat pumps rated 12kW and below from 1 January 2027. Revision of the European F-Gas Regulation. If taken, propane is currently the most viable potential option to achieve this.
Split air conditioners using propane are said to perform the same as air conditioners using R32 and are more efficient than units using R410A and R22. In addition, propane-powered split air conditioners are believed to perform better in warmer climates.
Currently, split air conditioners, the world’s most commonly used space cooling equipment, accounted for about 10% of total global electricity demand in 2016. The report claims that if current trends continue, the demand for air conditioner energy will more than triple by 2050, and the stock of air conditioners will increase from about 900 million in 2017 to more than 3.7 billion in 2050.
Switching to propane in split air conditioners could prevent a global temperature increase of 0.09°C (from 0.06°C to 0.12°C) by the end of the century, according to the report. This is significantly higher than the 0.03°C (0.02°C to 0.05°C) warming avoided by switching from full to R32 in split units.
Compared to R410A based units, propane split air conditioners cost 6-10% more to manufacture due to the extra safety measures required. However, the report states that propane units have lower operating costs because they are more efficient and use 40-60% less refrigerant than R410A. Like A2L gas, R32 is also highly flammable, but not as flammable as A3 propane refrigerant.
The report concluded that global annual HFC emissions from split air conditioning systems will increase from 0.4 GTCO2-eq. in 2017 to 1.7 GTCO2-eq. in 2050 and 2.6 GTCO2-eq. in 2100 if the use of R410A refrigerant in split air conditioning systems continues. Switching to R32 will reduce these emissions annually by 38% in 2050 and 51% in 2100, and switching to propane will reduce them by almost 100% in 2060. Switching from HFC-410A to HFC-32 could reduce cumulative global HFC emissions from split air conditioners by 44% between 2017 and 2100, while switching to propane instead would achieve a cumulative reduction of 88% over the same period .
Standard revision marks ‘milestone’ for propane air conditioners – May 3, 2022 Switzerland: New revisions to standards will allow the use of more flammable A3 refrigerants such as propane (R290). read more…
Hydrocarbon refrigerants in European air conditioning are ‘unrealistic’ – 26 May 2021 Belgium: European manufacturer group Eurovent rejects a ‘completely unrealistic’ European Commission proposal that HC refrigerants could replace HFCs in air conditioning systems by 2030. read more…
EC Supports Propane Use in Mini Split Air Conditioners – October 02, 2020 Europe: The European Commission supports the use of propane (R290) in mini split air conditioners with a possible maximum global warming potential of 150 for new units in the future. read more…