Eurovent Certification white paper reports CO2 gas coolers underperform in Europe

Eurovent Certification has published a white paper examining how refrigeration heat rejection equipment can perform differently across climate zones and why region-relevant, independently verified data matters for HVACR purchasing, design, and installation decisions.

Titled “Beyond the brochure: Exposing the reality of refrigeration product underperformance,” the paper presents research on gas coolers. The researchers found heat rejection capacity could be up to 53% lower than declared in Central and Northern European regions and up to 37% lower in warm weather climates, according to the publication.

The white paper reviews industry topics including refrigerant performance and utilisation, the growing adoption of natural refrigerants, and independent third-party verification. It also discusses consequences of inaccurate performance data, including the risks of greenwashing.

At the centre of the paper is a test campaign on uncertified CO2 gas coolers, designed to identify discrepancies between manufacturer-declared data and measured performance, and to assess the accuracy of Eurovent Certification’s correction factors used to predict CO2 gas cooler performance across different climate zones. It also includes simulations of how an underperforming heat rejection component can affect HFC and CO2 refrigeration systems, analysing energy consumption, operating costs, and carbon emissions.

Sylvain Courtey, President of Eurovent Certification, said: “This white paper sends a clear message to the sector. When performance data is not independently verified, or adapted to different regions, the consequences may ripple far beyond the equipment itself. Energy bills may rise, emissions increase, and entire systems may be compromised. Certification exists to protect the market from these risks. This white paper shows how important verified data is for building a trustworthy and sustainable refrigeration sector.”

“Beyond the brochure: Exposing the reality of refrigeration product underperformance,” is available as a free download in English, French, German, Italian, Turkish and Spanish.