An estimated 68,500 stores, or nearly 25% of all European food stores, are now using CO2 refrigeration technology, according to a new report.

The growth of CO2 and other “natural” refrigerants in Europe, North America, and Japan is charted in the latest market report from market development company ATMOsphere.

CO2 refrigeration offers a number of advantages over traditional HFC refrigerants:

It is a natural refrigerant with a GWP (Global Warming Potential) of 1, meaning it has no impact on climate change.
It is more energy efficient than HFC refrigerants.
It is safer and less flammable than HFC refrigerants.

The European Union’s F-gas regulation has been a major driver of the switch to CO2 refrigeration. The regulation phases out the use of HFC refrigerants, and CO2 is one of the alternatives that is being adopted.

In addition to the European Union, a number of other countries and regions are also implementing regulations that promote the use of CO2 refrigeration.

North America: The United States, Canada, and Mexico have all implemented regulations that phase out the use of HFC refrigerants.
Japan: The Japanese government has set a target for 50% of all new refrigeration systems to use CO2 by 2030.

The growth of CO2 refrigeration is being driven by a number of factors, including:

Regulations: The F-gas regulation and other regulations are a major drivers of the switch to CO2 refrigeration.
Environmental concerns: CO2 has a GWP of 1, meaning it has no impact on climate change. This is a major advantage over HFC refrigerants, which have high GWPs.
Energy efficiency: CO2 refrigeration is more energy efficient than HFC refrigeration. This can lead to significant cost savings.
Safety: CO2 is safer and less flammable than HFC refrigerants. This is a major advantage for food retailers, who are concerned about the safety of their refrigeration systems.

As a result of these factors, the use of CO2 refrigeration is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

The use of CO2 refrigeration technology is rapidly expanding across Europe, North America, and Japan, according to a new report by market development company ATMOsphere. Currently, an estimated 68,500 stores, or nearly 25% of all European food stores, utilize CO2 refrigeration.

This shift towards CO2 refrigeration is primarily driven by regulations like the European Union’s F-gas regulation, which phases out the use of harmful HFC refrigerants. CO2 offers numerous advantages over traditional HFC refrigerants, including a GWP (Global Warming Potential) of 1, indicating no impact on climate change, enhanced energy efficiency, and improved safety due to its non-flammability.

The growth of CO2 refrigeration is further fueled by environmental concerns, energy efficiency considerations, and safety concerns among food retailers. As a result, the adoption of CO2 refrigeration is expected to continue gaining momentum in the coming years, contributing significantly to reducing the environmental impact of the refrigeration industry.

Summary:

CO2 refrigeration is gaining traction in Europe, North America, and Japan.
Regulations and environmental concerns drive the adoption of CO2 refrigeration.
CO2 offers advantages over traditional HFC refrigerants, including environmental friendliness, energy efficiency, and safety.