Refrigerant guide for heat pump selection

As industry moves away from gas in order to decarbonise and reduce energy costs, heat pumps are being used to replace boilers for hot water supply.

The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) has developed a refrigerant guide for heat pumps for industrial and commercial applications to make the selection process easier.

Heat pumps can be an energy-efficient option for heating water for a range of applications, including commercial buildings, aquatic centres, and food and beverage processing and manufacturing. However, some heat pumps are limited in the systems and climatic conditions they can operate in based on the refrigerant they use and this can make the heat pump selection process complex.

As part of the RACE for 2030 Decarbonising heat with heat pumps project, A2EP has developed a guide for installers which explains the limitations of certain refrigerants due to issues such as flammability and global warming potential (GWP), and a refrigeration choice decision tree to simplify the selection process.

“A recent report by IEEFA Australia has highlighted the potential for heat pumps in Australia, stating that heat pumps can electrify industrial processes and replace up to 17% of Australia’s gas use,” said Jarrod Leak, Chief Executive Officer of A2EP.

“We see this guide as essential for making the safest and most appropriate choices as the numbers of heat pump installations and installers rise significantly over the next few years.”

The ‘Heat pump refrigerant guide’ can be downloaded here.

Image credit: iStock.com/real444