Even though the use of ozone destructive CFCs is not permitted in developed industrial countries (and the phasing out of HCFCs has already been decided) the refrigeration and air conditioning industries affect the environment across the globe – directly with emissions and indirectly with their power consumption. The discussion about the global warming effects of HFC refrigerants is still in progress. These so-called replacement refrigerants, like bromine- and chlorine-free HFCs, do not harm the ozone layer but have unfavourably high global warming potential (GWP). For this reason, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol called for a worldwide reduction of these greenhouse gases. Even new alternative refrigerants and blends, like R134a, R404A and R507 (all of them being HFCs), are less attractive for forward-looking applications due to their relatively high greenhouse effect.
Natural refrigerants are therefore the obvious choice as sustainable and ecological alternatives to HFCs. All natural refrigerants occur in nature's material cycle, even without human interference. They do not contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer and have no significant influence on the greenhouse effect. Moreover, natural refrigerants have been used in food production and storage for more than 100 years.
For all these reasons we are convinced that the natural refrigerants, ammonia and carbon dioxide, will be of great importance going forward. GEA Refrigeration Africa’s innovative refrigeration system designs together with natural refrigerants provide clients with an outstanding combination for a sustainable and environmentally friendly economy.