In recent years heat pumps have been recognised as integral technology in the global effort to improve energy efficiency. Governments in Europe, the US, Japan, China and Australia are providing incentives which drive technology advancement and increase growth in the manufacture and sales of heat pump technologies across a range of applications.
This report looks at heat pumps from a refrigerant perspective, particularly at the types of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in equipment and any impact the increase in this equipment type in the Australian market will have on its future demands for HFCs (as a bulk gas) and therefore Australia’s phase down.
HFCs are a type of synthetic greenhouse gas, mostly used in refrigeration and air conditioning equipment, including heat pumps. HFCs generally have a high global warming potential which means they have a greater ability to trap heat in the atmosphere compared to a similar mass of carbon dioxide.
Australia’s HFC phase-down started on 1 January 2018. The HFC phase-down is a gradual reduction in the maximum amount of HFCs permitted to be imported into Australia. Reduced imports will lead directly to reduced emissions.