Chemours and Axima Refrigeration France partner to adopt Opteon XL in commercial refrigeration

After successfully adopting Opteon XP40 (R-449A) to retrofit existing R-404A systems, Axima Refrigeration France looking into Opteon XL Low GWP HFO refrigerants for new commercial equipment in 2021.

Through a partnership with the Chemours Company (Chemours) (NYSE: CC), Axima will 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 (R-449A) for retrofitting existing R-404A systems.

"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 percent," says Diego Boeri, vice-president, Chemours Fluorochemicals. "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."

Chemours and Axima Refrigeration France hope 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 say they are committed to jointly investigate the use of A2L refrigerants in commercial refrigeration and 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 (R-449A) 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 R-404A.

For more information on Opteon refrigerants, please visit opteon.com.

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Emell Derra Adolphus has more than a decade of writing and journalism experience. He is senior editor of ENR’s Top Lists and Survey Rankings at ENR magazine and frequently contributes stories on technology, climate resiliency, diversity, equity and inclusion.