High Global Warming Potential refrigerants: phasing down and reshaping the energy environment
This piece was originally published in Energy Manager Magazine, March 2026
Author: Liam Johnson, senior energy and carbon analyst, Salix
Refrigerants are often overlooked contributors to climate change, yet their impact is considerable. High Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants, most commonly hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), are widely used across refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump technologies.
While these substances were originally introduced as less harmful alternatives to ozone-depleting chemicals, their high heat-trapping potential has pushed them to the front of global climate policy. As regulatory pressure intensifies across the UK and Europe, the phasing down of high GWP refrigerants is beginning to reshape the energy and built environment sectors.
As part of my role at Salix, I must ensure we’re always ahead of the technology shaping how best we can ensure the most energy efficient solutions that are kind to our planet.
HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons) can have GWPs hundreds or even thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Common refrigerants such as R-410A, commonly seen in air conditioning and heat pump units, have a GWP of more than 2,000. This means that over time, with general wear and tear and poor upkeep, small leaks during operation, servicing or disposal can result in disproportionately large climate impacts. As the public sector moves towards decarbonising its buildings, heat pumps are increasingly important as low carbon heating sources, increasing the need to address refrigerant emissions.
From January 2025, new restrictions came into force banning the sale of certain air conditioning systems that use refrigerants with a GWP above 750. This effectively removes several commonly used HFCs from new installations and signals a decisive shift toward lower-GWP alternatives. Looking further ahead, UK government proposals intend to reduce HFC availability by almost 99% by the late 2040s, supplying a clear path forward for manufacturers.
These measures are meant to future-proof the UK’s energy infrastructure for the electrification of heating systems, particularly in the context of our work at Salix, where the use of more natural refrigerants in heat pumps is helping position manufacturers ahead of the trend toward phasing down HFCs.
The phasing down represents both an obstacle and an opportunity. Heat pump manufacturers are being forced to innovate and transition to refrigerants with significantly lower GWPs, such as R-32, CO2, ammonia, and hydrocarbons like propane (R-290). Each alternative comes with challenges. Natural refrigerants offer exceptional climate performance, though they can introduce design complexities due to higher operating pressures or flammability considerations.
As a result, each system design must include appropriate upskilling for fitters and updated industry-wide safety standards when carrying out our refurbishments or maintenance. Contractors and engineers must upskill to work confidently with these new technologies, while clients are being encouraged to think beyond upfront cost and consider the operational life of the heat pump. At the same time, the cost of high-GWP refrigerants has risen sharply, further supporting the financial case for early adoption of compliant alternatives.
The impact of refrigerant regulation is particularly visible within publicly funded decarbonisation programmes, including the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme – a programme we deliver at Salix on behalf of government. This has been designed to support public sector organisations in lowering emissions across their estates and has funded thousands of projects since 2020. These projects have involved the installation of a low-carbon heating system involving a heat pump, and supported building retrofitting and energy efficiency upgrades.
We’re currently delivering Phase 4 of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme with numbers of projects completing in 2028.
The Phase 4 guidance placed a greater emphasis on refrigerant selection. This means that applicants were expected to demonstrate that systems use low-GWP refrigerants wherever possible and provide commentary as to their choice.
Buildings across education, healthcare facilities, and local authorities have been affected by this shift, with some projects opting for natural refrigerant systems that better align with long-term regulatory and compliance requirements.
The phasedown of high-GWP refrigerants across the energy and buildings sectors is a structural change in how we think about emissions. As operating efficiency improves and the national grid continues to decarbonise, emissions from refrigerants are coming under greater scrutiny. This is driving a more thorough approach to system design, considering refrigerant lifecycle impacts and resilience alongside energy performance.
In the long term, early engagement with low-GWP refrigerants reduces risk, supports future compliance for Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme projects, and pushes forward with net zero. As cooling and heating demand continue to grow, refrigerant policy will play an increasingly central role in determining whether net-zero ambitions can be met.
