Under the next stage of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act’s hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phase-down, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is calling for the reduction of many of the common commercial refrigerants, including R-404A, which is widely used in low to medium-temperature commercial refrigeration in supermarkets, vending machines, and refrigerated transport. Due to its high Global Warming Potential (GWP), R-404A production will be phased-down and eventually removed from use. GWP is a standard measure of the impact a greenhouse gas has on the environment compared with CO2, with a kilogram of CO2 having a GWP of 1. A kilogram of R-404A has a GWP of 3,922, meaning that it is thousands of times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2. Available replacements for R-404A are R-449A (Opteon™ XP40), a Chemours product, which has a 67% lower GWP, and R-452A (Opteon™ XP44) which has a 45% lower GWP.
To meet the AIM Act’s goal of 85% hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) phasedown before 2036, new EPA regulations will focus on decreasing the production and consumption of these refrigerants. R-404A is a blend of R-125, R-143a, and R-134a, all of which are among the individual HFCs listed in the AIM Act. As regulations call for the removal of R-404A, leftover and recovered refrigerant will need to be either disposed of or repurposed. Under the EPA’s goal of maximizing reclamation alongside the transition to next-gen refrigerants, technology facilitating the recovery and reclamation of R-404A would allow this valuable chemical to be re-purposed, helping to alleviate some of the economic impact of this phase down.
The phase out of R-404A is just the start of the eventual move towards more sustainable refrigerants in the upcoming years. Worldwide, more and more legislation and comprehensive regulations aim to mitigate the environmental impacts of high GWP refrigerants and push towards the development and adoption of more environmentally friendly solutions. A complete timeline of these regulations is found below.
Timeline:
2020: AIM Act allows EPA to address the issue of HFCs through phase down of production and consumption, maximizing reclamation and minimizing releases, and facilitating the transition into the next generation of refrigerants
2021: The Final Rule was issued under the AIM Act to create new regulations phasing down HFCs by 85% by 2036
2023: Reached a 10% decrease in consumption and production compared to baseline of 302.5 million metric tons of exchange value equivalent (MMTEVe) consumption and 382.5 MMTEVe production.
2024-2028: Proposed 40% decrease in consumption and production compared to baseline.
2029-2033: Proposed 70% decrease in consumption and production compared to baseline.
2036: From 2036 and after, a decrease of 85% consumption and production of baseline as mandated in AIM Act.
References
United Nations Environment Programme Treaties Page. https://ozone.unep.org/treaties/montreal-protocol (accessed 2024-01-24)
42 USC 7675: American innovation and manufacturing. https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title42-section7675(a)&num=0&edition=p (Opteon)relim (accessed 2024-01-24).
What is R507 Refrigerant Gas? https://www.miracleref.com/what-is-r507-refrigerant-gas/#:~:text=R507%20refrigerant%20gas%20is%20mainly%20used%20for%20an,units%2C%20water-cooled%20condensing%20unit%2C%20and%20wholesale%20HVAC%20unit. (accessed 2024-01-23).
Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) Refrigerant. https://www.opteon.com/en/Products/Refrigerants/xp40 (accessed 2024-01-24)
Opteon™ XP44 (R-452A) Refrigerant. https://www.opteon.com/en/products/refrigerants/xp44 (accessed 2024-01-24)
Final Rule – Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Establishing the Allowance Allocation and Trading Program under the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2024-01/hfc-allocation-rule-fact-sheet_1.19.2024_508.pdf (accessed 2024-01-26)
Hydrofluorocarbon Reclaim and Innovative Destruction Grants. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-11/hydrofluorocarbon-reclaim-and-innovative-destruction-grants_nofo_11.17.2023.pdf (accessed 2024-01-26)