ATMOsphere Europe 2011, the international workshop for natural refrigerants gathered leading policy and industry experts. Taking place over two days, the final programme included sessions on market trends and policy, presentations from leading European retailers, and technology case studies highlighting advances in natural refrigerant applications. Below all articles about presentations, discussions and outcomes published on the B2B website specialised on CO₂ technology R744.com you can find below.

• ATMOsphere 2011 – European supermarkets choose natural working fluids for commercial refrigeration: In the first End User Panel of ATMOsphere 2011 leading European retailers M&S, Coop Norway, Migros and Carrefour voiced their support for natural refrigerants, presenting their experiences with CO₂, ammonia and hydrocarbon commercial refrigeration installations and their future plans for natural refrigerant systems.

• Towards strengthening EU f-gas policy - clear position on f-gas future sought: One of the key messages emerging from discussions at ATMOsphere Europe 2011 was that industry and end-users wish for European policy makers to take a clear position on the future of f-gases. Political will to set clear signs did seem to emerge, with policy presentations on day 1 of the event covering the prospects for a strengthened f-gas policy in the EU, and the experience of different countries with implementing not only the EU F-Gas Regulation, but also national measures that go beyond the minimum requirements and create a level playing field for natural refrigerants.

• Market trends for natural refrigerants discussed at ATMOsphere Europe 2011: Market figures are key – but not available so far for natural refrigerant installations. That is why the first three presentations at ATMOsphere Europe 2011 tried to summarise the available market information and present to policy makers an initial overview with the invitation to the floor to give more input.

• New applications and innovations for CO2 at case study session - part 1: High efficiency CO₂ heat pumps for domestic use coming to Europe; a CO₂ refrigerant container unit travelling through different climate zones; high ambient transcritical CO₂ showcases; and a transcritical CO₂ system combined with adsorption technology are just the first 4 topics of the case studies selected for ATMOsphere Europe 2011 in Brussels.

• New applications and innovations for CO2 at case study session - part 2: Efficiency results from a 1 year test period from a transcritical booster system from Danfoss; Klaas Visser with the world first two stage CO₂ transcritical refrigeration plant replacing 22 HFC and HCFCs independent systems as well as DTI presenting their server room heat recovery and free cooling with CO₂ and propane are the other CO₂ case studies selected for ATMOsphere Europe 2011 in Brussels.

• EU policies, market trends and innovations - Interview with chairman ATMOsphere Europe 2011: R744.com spoke with Marc Chasserot, chairman of ATMOsphere Europe 2011. He explained why the focus will be on Europe this year and how the event can influence the future of natural refrigerants.

• Market trends for natural refrigerants discussed at ATMOsphere Europe 2011: From 11-12 October, European policy makers meet with industry representatives and commercial end-users to discuss current EU legislation under revision, market trends and technical innovations that impact on the heating and cooling sector. The first session on Tuesday morning kicked off with three presentations on market trends for natural refrigerants.

• CO2 heat pump water heaters tailored to Europe: At ATMOsphere Europe 2011 last week in Brussels, Georges Khoury, Chief Engineer of ECO Activities at Sanden, presented their CO₂ heat pump water heater for the European market. Based on the Japanese Eco Cute, the high efficiency CO₂ heat pump has been optimised for European countries and field-tested in 12 family homes.