The latest internal survey by AREA reveals a significant increase in European F-gas certified personnel trained on alternative refrigerants since 2021. However, new regulations adopted in February 2024 predict an underestimation in the forecasted need for technician training.
Currently, 367,000 RACHP personnel are F-gas certified across 18 EU countries. Data from 16 national members show a notable rise in training on alternatives: HFOs lead with a 40% training rate, varying greatly between countries. HCs hold a 29% and 19% rate depending on equipment size, while 21% are trained on CO2 and 12% on Ammonia.
With the new F-gas Regulation's product bans and phase-downs, there's a potential shortage of trained contractors on alternative refrigerants. Mandatory certification introduced in the regulation aims to boost contractor competence, ensuring safe and efficient handling of these refrigerants.
The initial forecast of 115,000 technicians needing training is now seen as underestimated. To meet EU goals of deploying 10 million additional heat pumps by 2027, approximately 150,000 technicians will be required, increasing to 300,000 for 30 million by 2030.
The RACHP sector faces a shift post-2030, moving towards minimal F-gas usage, necessitating comprehensive training and certification to adapt to a future reliant on alternatives.
Final AREA survey training and certification 2024