The future-proof path
Natural refrigerants such as CO₂, ammonia and propane are rapidly gaining importance in industrial refrigeration technology. The reason lies in their very low or non-existent global warming potential (GWP) – and in the European F-Gas Regulation, which is increasingly restricting climate-damaging synthetic refrigerants (F-gases/HFCs).
Anyone planning or modernising a refrigeration system today is making a an investment-secure and environmentally friendly decision: independent of shrinking HFC quotas, with high efficiency and excellent suitability for heat recovery.
the three most important
A1 — non-flammable, non-toxic
Carbon dioxide is the reference refrigerant: its global warming potential (GWP) of 1 defines the scale. It is non-flammable and non-toxic, but operates at high working pressures and with a high volumetric cooling capacity.
Typical Areas of Application
B2L — toxic, mildly flammable
Ammonia has been the most efficient refrigerant in industrial refrigeration for over a hundred years — with a GWP of 0 and no ozone depletion potential. As it is toxic and flammable at higher concentrations, it requires a well-thought-out safety and system concept.
Typical Areas of Application
A3 — flammable, non-toxic
Propane is convincing due to its excellent thermodynamic properties and very high efficiency at a GWP of 0.02. As a flammable refrigerant, it is used safely through charge quantity limitation and a suitable safety concept.
Typical Areas of Application
GWP = Global Warming Potential (100 years; CO₂ = 1 as reference) according to Regulation (EU) 2024/573, Annex VI, based on the Sixth IPCC Assessment Report. Older sources cite a value of 3 for propane from the Fourth Assessment Report. Safety classifications according to ASHRAE 34 / DIN EN 378.
The EU F-Gas Regulation is progressively reducing the available quantity of partially fluorinated refrigerants (HFCs) and restricting the use of high-GWP refrigerants in new systems. For operators, this means rising prices and decreasing availability of synthetic refrigerants – along with increasing legal and planning uncertainty.
Natural refrigerants are not affected by this scarcity. They safeguard system operation in the long term and make investments future-proof – a key argument even at the planning stage.
At a glance
Very low to zero global warming potential – a direct contribution to CO₂ reduction.
Independent of F-Gas scarcity – long-term availability and investment security.
Excellent thermodynamic properties – low operating costs and good heat recovery.
A technology proven over decades – reliably in use with the right safety concept.
KSI Kältetechnik plans, builds and maintains industrial refrigeration systems with natural refrigerants – from the energy concept through plant engineering to 24/7 service.
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