Axima Refrigeration France has chosen to partner with Chemours to evaluate the use and future adoption of Opteon XL low global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) refrigerants in commercial refrigeration before the next European F-Gas HFC cap and phasedown in 2021. 

As a first step towards the reduction of CO2 quota, Axima Refrigeration France has already adopted Opteon XP40 (R449A) for retrofitting existing R404A systems.

This collaboration based around the future adoption of Opteon XL refrigerant aims to provide the commercial refrigeration market with long-term solutions under the F-Gas regulation that have a low environmental impact while ensuring performance, safety, reliability, and cost-efficiency. 

Both companies are committed to jointly investigating the use of A2L refrigerants in commercial refrigeration. They will support the transition by performing trials and developing case studies, as well as best practices they will be jointly delivering through training. 

The recent adoption of Opteon XP40 (R449A) by Axima Refrigeration France is the first step towards this transition and enables the company to ensure its customers business continuity. 

Opteon XP40 (A1 class refrigerant) is currently the refrigerant of choice among leading supermarkets, retailers, contractors, distributors and end-users in the EU for retrofit, delivering improved performance and energy efficiency with a more sustainable environmental footprint, and offering over 65 percent reduction in GWP compared to R404A.

Diego Boeri, vice-president, Chemours Fluorochemicals, says: 'Our two companies share the same objective; to help the commercial refrigeration market prepare for the 2021 HFC phasedown that will reduce the available CO2 quota by 55 per cent. Axima's strategy to select refrigerants below 1500 GWP such as Opteon XP40 for retrofits, and below 150 GWP such as Opteon XL for new equipment, demonstrates the key role that Opteon plays today and in the future to meet the needs of the commercial refrigeration sector.'

Laurent Meykuchel, chief executive, Axima Refrigeration France, says: 'Axima Refrigeration is engaged for over 20 years now in developing innovative and more sustainable refrigeration systems to comply with its refrigerant policy, and its societal and environmental responsibilities. With our ILICO2 program promoting the use of energy efficient refrigerants with GWP Gases less than 150 like Opteon XL, Axima refrigeration fully aligns with the global strategy of Engie that is to drive the market towards a Zero Carbon Transition.' 

Opteon low GWP HFO refrigerants are a portfolio of sustainable and versatile refrigerants that meet the long-term needs of the refrigeration, air conditioning, heat pump, and chiller markets.