Wholesale retailer Makro, part of the Massmart Group, has opened an integrated 1.6MW (455TR) CO2 (R744) store in New London, South Africa, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind” for the country. The central CO2 plant, designed by South Africa-based engineering firm Future Green Now (FGN), meets all of the store’s thermal energy loads, which include low- and medium-temperature refrigeration, air-conditioning and heating for the retail area and administrative offices, and domestic hot water. Read...
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Wholesale retailer Makro, part of the Massmart Group, has opened an integrated 1.6MW (455TR) CO2 (R744) store in New London, South Africa, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind” for the country. The central CO2 plant, designed by South Africa-based engineering firm Future Green Now (FGN), meets all of the store’s thermal energy loads, which include low- and medium-temperature refrigeration, air-conditioning and heating for the retail area and administrative offices, and domestic hot water. Read...
Italian component manufacturer Castel has announced that both its ball valves and solenoid valve lines have obtained Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) from the International EPD System (IES). An EPD requires an in-depth life cycle assessment of the product line, evaluating the environmental impacts of the product from production through use to disposal. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
In addition to what we published this week, these stories caught our eye. Strabag Umwelttechnik Building ‘World’s Largest Heat Pump’ in GermanyDanfoss Introduces New EEV for CO2 Refrigeration SystemsZero Zone Expanding Systems DivisionPakistan Ratifies the Kigali AmendmentRead the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
The articles in the podcast are as follows: Copeland to Acquire Sustainable Process Heat, Expanding Industrial High-Temperature Heat Pump PortfolioInterview: Panasonic Has Sold 7,000 CO2 Condensing Units in Europe, with 2,500 Sold in 2025 Alone, Says Managing DirectorInterview: Shanghai Highly Could Double Natural Refrigerant Business in 3 Years, Says Project ManagerU.S. EPA Proposes New SNAP Rule Supporting Hydrocarbons in HVACThe First-Ever ATMO Middle East Will Be Held September 7–8 2026 i...
ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, has published a preview of the program for the 15th edition of its ATMO Europe Summit featuring sessions on HVAC&R market trends and case studies as well as panel discussions on investing in the industry, PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and – for the first time – data centers. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
Chinese manufacturer Shanghai Highly could double its natural refrigerant business in three years due to the advancement of China’s “dual carbon” goals and Europe’s refrigerant regulations, according to Product Manager Carl Zhang. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, has announced that the first-ever ATMO Middle East will be held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), from September 7–8 2026. “After more than 80 conferences on five continents, we’re now coming to the Middle East,” said Marc Chasserot, ATMOsphere’s Founder and CEO. “This will be the first of what we hope are many events in the Middle East. Our intention is to be here for the long-term and help push the market toward natural refrigera...
U.S. compressor manufacturer Copeland has announced plans to acquire Sustainable Process Heat (SPH), a German company specializing in industrial high-temperature heat pumps. Already a key player in ammonia (R717) heat pumps through its Vilter brand, Copeland said the acquisition will broaden its industrial heating portfolio with “sustainable high-temperature solutions that help industrial customers transition away from fossil-fuel systems,” according to a statement on LinkedIn. Read the full ...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a Proposed Rule 27 that would establish or update the conditions under which certain refrigerants, including hydrocarbons, would be allowed for new residential and light-commercial air-conditioning and heat pumps and other applications under the Significant New Alternatives Policy Program (SNAP). Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
American refrigeration systems manufacturer Zero Zone has launched a new services division and its first self-contained propane (R290) merchandiser. The newly formed services division unifies all customer-facing services into a single organization, with the purpose of delivering a “smoother service experience” and a quicker response to clients’ needs, according to Zero Zone. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
Zero-C, a Canadian-Swiss refrigeration manufacturer, sold natural refrigerant products in 2024 that avoided the lifetime release of 873,000 metric tons of CO2e (GWP 20) and 21.5 metric tons of TFA (trifluoroacetic acid), according to estimations by ATMOsphere, the publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
To date Panasonic has sold 7,000 CO2 (R744) outdoor condensing units (CDUs) in Europe, with 2,500 sold in 2025 alone ‒ a more than 37% increase in market sales, according to the Managing Director of Panasonic Cold Chain Poland, Gaku Shimada. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
U.S. component manufacturer Copeland has been named the winner of the 2026 AHR Expo (International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition) Innovation Award in the refrigeration category for its transcritical CO2 (R744) scroll compressors with dynamic vapor injection (DVI) technology. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
In addition to what we published this week, these stories caught our eye. Kriwan Opens New Factory in the Czech RepublicCopeland has acquired Sustainable Process Heating (SPH)Coca-Cola will trial a hydrocarbon high-temperature heat pump from British company HotGreen Solutions.Epta Previews New Ice Cream and Frozen Food Display Cabinets.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
German automaker Volkswagen (VW) is working to improve the efficiency of its CO2 (R744)-based heat pump system for electric vehicles (EVs) and reduce material costs, according to Carsten Wachsmuth, who works in the automaker’s R&D division on EV thermal management. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
In an online hearing hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on October 20, a number of manufacturers, trade groups and NGOs expressed their opposition to some of the provisions in the EPA’s proposed reconsideration of the Technology Transitions rule, particularly five- and six-year delays in the launch of new GWP limits for refrigerants used in supermarket and cold-storage refrigeration. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
International food wholesaler METRO has confirmed to NaturalRefrigerants.com that refrigeration in its stores in Slovakia is now 100% f-gas free, having transitioned to CO2 (R744)-based technologies. The last of METRO Slovakia’s six facilities to be upgraded is its store in the Devínska Nová Ves district of Bratislava, according to Olaf Schulze, Director of Energy Management and Real Estate Sustainability at METRO Properties, the company’s real estate division. Read the full story...
With over 200 CO2 (R744) units installed globally, Foshan LYD Energy Saving Technology, a Chinese manufacturer of CO2 heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, is open to entering into new international partnerships, including with OEMs, Sales Manager Dick Yi told NaturalRefrigerants.com. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
On October 3, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed changes to the Technology Transitions rule that would push back compliance dates for GWP limits of 150 or 300 (depending on the size and charge of equipment) for refrigerants in supermarket refrigeration from 2026 and 2027 to 2032. A few days later at the 2025 FMI Energy and Store Development event, a variety of manufacturers showed that they’re still moving ahead with natural refrigerant products despite the regulatory unc...
State-owned railroad company SNCF (National Society of French Railways) is purchasing 291 HVAC systems using air-cycle technology from Liebherr-Transportation Systems for inclusion in its regional high-capacity railcars. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.
ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com and organizer of ATMOsphere Europe Summit 2025, has announced the launch of the nomination process for the ATMO Awards/Europe 2025. The ATMO Awards/Europe 2025, honoring excellence in the implementation of natural refrigerant-based HVAC&R systems, will be given during a special ceremony on the first day of the ATMOsphere Europe Summit 2025. The Summit will be held in Padova, Italy, on Monday and Tuesday, November 24–25. Read the full story ...
Wholesale retailer Makro, part of the Massmart Group, has opened an integrated 1.6MW (455TR) CO2 (R744) store in New London, South Africa, which it calls a “first-of-its-kind” for the country. The central CO2 plant, designed by South Africa-based engineering firm Future Green Now (FGN), meets all of the store’s thermal energy loads, which include low- and medium-temperature refrigeration, air-conditioning and heating for the retail area and administrative offices, and domestic hot water. Read...
