50+ participants attended ATMOsphere Geneva 2012, which was part of the the 24th Meeting Of the Parties of the Montreal Protocol. The side event was held on 14 November to give an "Update on Natural Refrigerant Solutions" to the ozone and climate negotiators seeking technologically viable, safe and efficient alternatives to HCFCs.
Natural Substances and UNIDO: Natural Solutions for Article 5 countries by Sidi Menad Si Ahmed, UNIDO
Sidi Menad Si Ahmed, from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), outlined the different initiatives of UNIDO to implement natural substances and alternatives - including natural refrigerants - in the RAC and Foam sector.
He insisted on the need to work on the global acceptance of natural refrigerants , especially in developing countries and invited participants to the upcoming UNIDO ATMOsphere Technology Summit to be held in Vienna on June 3-4, 2013 (more information coming soon on ATMO.org).
Natural Refrigerants - Sustainable and Commercially Viable Solution by Antoine Azar, The Coca Cola Company
After summarising Coca Cola's global HFCs phase out program, main steps so far and upcoming targets, Azar defended the business case of natural refrigerants in commercial refrigeration showing the constant improvement of CO2 equipment performances.
"Don't challenge me. I have the data. We are using CO2 since 10 years. We know it is efficient and we are willing to share our knowledge", he concluded.
Natural Refrigerants in different industrial applications by Jan Boone, Mayekawa Europe
After tracing back the History of Mayekawa as one of the world most innovative compressors manufacturers and his company commitment to the "Natural Five" refrigerants (CO2, ammonia, hydrocarbons, air and water), Jan Boone presented field cases about industrial applications for each one of the natural refrigerants: NH3 compressor chiller units in Taïwan and Middle East, CO2 compression refrigeration system in Thailand, Water adsorption chiller in Mexico, Hydrocarbon refrigerants packaged units in Middle East, India and Brazil, Air cycle refrigerants packaged units in Japan.
Natural Alternatives in the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Sectors by Mark Roberts, Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
Mark Roberts presented the key findings of the latest report published by EIA's Washington D.C office. This report focusing on available HFC-free technologies for the retail sector in North America. The report also presents most relevant case examples currently in use in North America, including: Ben & Jerry's hydrocarbons freezers, Supervalu’s CO2 and ammonia cascade system, ammonia/CO2 cascade refrigeration system at a Defense Commissary Agency Project, Waitrose installs water & propane refrigeration system.
Roberts concluded explaining that domestic refrigeration and air conditioning using natural refrigerants still needed to take off in North America and that successful examples like Heathrow's Airport Terminal 5 ammonia air conditioning units need to be promoted.
Natural Refrigerants - Innovation in Europe and the world by Nina Masson, shecco
Nina Masson, shecco head of Market Research, presented Industry surveys results showing the market potential of Natural Refrigerants application in Europe and worldwide as well as an estimation of the progresses of natural refrigeration in the commercial refrigeration and the retail sector between mid-2011 and end-2012.
She also highlighted the relatively low level of awareness towards Natural Refrigeration in the developing countries and underlined the need to spread the message more widely basing herself on a recent survey on acceptability of hydrocarbon air-conditioner in India.
Strengthening F-Gas policies - Where do we stand? by Alexandra Maratou, shecco
Last presenter, Alexandra Maratou, from shecco, presented recent evolutions of the different International and European F-Gas Policies (Montreal Protocol, EU F-Gas Regulation, Swiss F-Gas Regulation).
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