Low GWP conversion: an energy efficiency issue ?

Energy efficiency receives global attention today related to the decreasing of CO2 emissions. This also particularly concerns the R/AC sector, because Montreal Protocol parties, when adopting the Kigali Amendment, requested the Technology Panel to investigate energy efficiency opportunities when converting to low-GWP alternatives. Other initiatives such as (1) the Kigali Cooling Efficiency Program (K-CEP) “to help the Kigali amendment succeed by making cooling more energy efficient”, and (2) a “Cooling for All” policy undertaking, are likely to play a role in minimizing R/AC emissions. An initial analysis is imperative now in regards to what the R/AC sector can achieve via adequate new designs and technology approaches, resulting in significantly lower energy consumption values. In a first instance, this is related to the use of low-GWP alternatives. The paper describes how the energy efficiency issue has been dealt with during the last 30 years, when several types of refrigerant conversions took place. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential for equipment energy efficiency improvement achievable when converting to low-GWP alternatives. Using the technological possibilities as a reference, it estimates the impact of other factors that could contribute to increasing energy efficiency. This notion also includes claims in policy statements for increasing R/AC energy efficiency at the present.