R32 expanding rapidly in EU

The Building Services Research & Information Association (BSRIA) has predicted the R32 market share for split systems in Europe will exceed 80 per cent by 2023. According to its research, R32 accounted for approximately 37 per cent of the market in 2019.

R32 has a lower global warming potential (GWP) than other refrigerants (of 675), and some manufacturers have already switched their entire ranges. Many are transitioning as the European F-Gas regulations ramp up.

Approximately 11.9 million air conditioning and heat pump units were sold in Europe in 2019, with over 80 per cent of heat pumps sold containing R410A. It is expected that R32 and propane (R290) will become more common as the industry moves away from R410A.

A similar transition is taking place in Australia. According to the latest version of Cold Hard Facts, in 2018 R32 systems made up 53 per cent of all pre-charged small air conditioning units imported, an increase from 39 per cent in 2016 and up from effectively zero in 2012.