What is GWP, And What Does It Mean To Me?
As the world increasingly prioritises sustainability and the fight against climate change, terms like Global Warming Potential (GWP) are becoming critical in discussions across various industries, including energy and cooling systems. But what does this mean for you if your business relies on process cooling equipment to support your applications?
What is GWP?
Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific period, relative to carbon dioxide (CO₂). Carbon dioxide, the baseline reference, has a GWP of 1. Other gases are compared to CO₂ to determine their GWP values. For instance:
- Methane (CH₄) has a GWP of 27-30 over 100 years, meaning that it traps 27-30 times more heat than CO₂.
- Common refrigerants can have GWPs in the hundreds or even thousands, making them significantly more impactful on global warming if released into the atmosphere.
What Does it Mean to You?
For businesses that rely on cooling equipment, understanding GWP is about more than compliance; it’s about ensuring that your operations align with global priorities while maintaining efficiency and reliability. Here’s how GWP impacts your choices:
Environmental Responsibility:
Your choice of refrigerants directly affects your environmental footprint. Opting for low-GWP refrigerants can help your business contribute to sustainability goals and reduce the risk of environmental penalties.
Regulatory Compliance:
International agreements like the Kigali Amendment and regulations such as the EU F-Gas Regulation mandate the phasedown of high-GWP refrigerants. Staying compliant ensures that your business avoids fines and remains competitive in a global market.
Operational Longevity:
Choosing equipment compatible with low-GWP refrigerants ensures that your systems will remain viable as regulations tighten. This protects your investment and prevents costly upgrades or replacements in the future
The Role of Applied Thermal Control
At Applied Thermal Control, we understand the global importance of sustainability and the practical challenges faced by our customers. Our new chiller ranges will feature R290 and R454C, two refrigerants with significantly lower GWPs compared to traditional options. These refrigerants deliver excellent cooling performance and align with the evolving needs of industries worldwide.
A Closer Look at Refrigerants
At Applied Thermal Control, we’re committed to helping customers navigate the evolving refrigerant landscape. Here’s a closer look at the refrigerants that we are featuring in our solutions, and some others you may hear mentioned:
Propane (R290)
GWP – Less than 1
Classification – A3 (highly flammable
R290 offers exceptional cooling performance with minimal environmental impact. Its flammability requires careful handling and specific system designs, but it’s an ideal choice for businesses prioritising sustainability in controlled environments.
R454C
GWP – 148
Classification – A2L (mildly flammable)
R454C balances lower GWP with ease of use compared to highly flammable options. It’s suitable for businesses seeking an intermediate step toward greener operations while maintaining safety and efficiency.
CO₂ (R744)
GWP – 1 (baseline reference)
Classification – A1 (non-flammable)
While CO₂ is an attractive option environmentally, its high operating pressures make it expensive to implement and maintain under the Pressure Equipment Directive. Additionally, CO₂ systems are often larger and costlier, making them less practical for many applications.
R513a
GWP – Approximately 573
Classification – A1 (non-flammable)
R513a is an intermediate solution for businesses transitioning away from high-GWP refrigerants. It’s non flammable and easier to adopt in existing systems but doesn’t offer the ultra-low GWP of options like R290 or CO₂.
Understanding GWP empowers you to make informed decisions that benefit both your operations and the environment. If you’re considering upgrading your equipment or have questions about your process cooling systems, contact our team today!
