Why the reclamation of refrigerants is more important now than ever

Historically, many of the refrigerants installed in applications like Computer Room Air Conditioners (CRAC) and Air-Cooled Chillers were Ozone Depleting Substances (ODSs), posing a significant risk if they were released into the atmosphere. The Montreal Protocol (MOP), signed in 1987, aimed to phase out these gases. They were replaced by (among other things) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), but while these are not ozone-depleting, they still have a high Global Warming Potential (GWP). The Kigali Amendment, signed in 2016, addressed this further, asking governments and institutions to commit to an 80% reduction in the production and consumption of HFCs over the next three decades.

Other initiatives, such as the GB and EU F-Gas Regulations will speed up the phasedown. However, they do not provide a fulsome solution for the refrigerants already in use. Without a responsible lifecycle management programme, the risk of the gases being released into the atmosphere grows. Transitioning towards the circular economy is an important step in minimising that risk.

The circular economy is an antidote to the ‘Take, Make, Dispose’ model that has dominated our industry for decades, and the recovery and reclamation of used refrigerants are central to it. Reclaiming refrigerants to industry-accepted AHRI 700 standards and re-supplying them back to the market extends their lifetime and mitigates their potential impact on the environment. Simply put, the more refrigerant that is recovered, reclaimed and repurposed, the bigger the chance we have of reducing the cooling industry’s Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in line with net-zero targets.

This is where an effective and wide-ranging Lifecycle Refrigerant Management (LRM) programme is imperative in ensuing no kilogram of refrigerant is released into the atmosphere. The A-Gas approach to LRM provides market leading solutions to our global customer base.

When the company started in 1993, it was a gas distribution company. Today, it is a market-leading LRM business that helps its customers embrace circular economy principles. A-Gas supplies lower GWP alternatives and reclaimed refrigerants to industries worldwide. Through services like its Rapid Recovery offering, A-Gas recovers legacy refrigerant gas in a way that is responsible, flexible, on-site and up to 10 times faster than traditional methods. Because reclaimed refrigerant functions just as well as virgin products, it provides its customers with a high-quality solution while mitigating emissions.

Increasing the circularity of refrigerants and limiting the need for virgin production supports customers with their own environmental goals.

Recovery and reclamation are more important now than ever and are at the core of A-Gas’ business strategy. By ensuring that as much recovered refrigerant as possible is reclaimed and repurposed for future reuse, customers are given greater choice and are consistently supported in adapting to any new rules and regulations. The more the industry adopts circular economy principles, the more it can contribute to enabling a viable future for the planet.