The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to implement the phase-down of high-GWP refrigerants enacted by the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. 2023 marked the beginning of the phase-out of the commonly used refrigerant R-410A in new HVAC systems. R-410A is to be replaced with new HFO/HFC refrigerant blends that are A2L class refrigerants with lower Global Warming Potential (GWP). GWP is used as the standard of impact a greenhouse gas has on the climate, with CO2 being used as the baseline with an assigned GWP of 1. R-410A, by comparison, is more than two-thousand times more potent as a greenhouse gas with a GWP of 2,088 and has been targeted for phase-down and ultimate transitioning out of use. One replacement for R-410A is R-454B (Opteon™ XL41), a Chemours product with an approximate 78% reduction in GWP when compared to R-410A.
Consumers can continue using R-410A in pre-existing units, but new AC and HVAC systems must be adapted for A2L class refrigerant usage. The EPA has proposed setting consumption and production allowances each year for high GWP refrigerants mixtures like R-410A to coincide with the AIM Act goal of 85% hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) phasedown before 2036. As it is removed over time from existing systems, large amounts of R-410A will need to be either disposed of or recycled and repurposed. As a mixture of refrigerants R-32 and R-125, R-410A will need to be able to be separated into its pure components to be re-used as components in modern, more environmentally friendly refrigerant blends.
The removal of R-410A is only a small part of the sweeping changes that will affect the industry in coming years. Despite the critical role of refrigerants in our daily lives, their high GWP has prompted significant legislative action worldwide, leading to a series of comprehensive regulations aimed at mitigating environmental impact and progressing towards environmentally friendly solutions. A timeline of phasedown found in 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