TABLE OF CONTENTS

Barriers to the Uptake of Natural Refrigerants in Europe
Training, Technology Development & Costs remain the main challenges
QUESTION: “What are the biggest barriers in adopting
Natural Refrigerants?”
... if the organisation does not offer or have plans to
offer Natural Refrigerant products & services
100%
23%
16%
16%
13%
11%
10%
9%
23%
23%
13%
10%
19%
13%
7%
Scale: Strength of Barrier
80%
60%
35%
33%
30%
29%
28%
32%
35%
22%
33%
20%
36%
22%
37%
41%
26%
28%
35%
23%
35%
35%
26%
16%
26%
45%
19%
38%
4 very strong
3 strong
2 moderate
40%
20%
0%
28%
10%
3%
training &
know-how
15%
6%
technology
& safety
20%
7%
funding
& costs
14%
6%
psychology
24%
10%
legislation
23%
11%
supply &
availability
23%
9%
markets
23%
10%
3%
10%
13%
13%
16%
13%
7%
26%
13%
13%
3%
26%
10%
1 minor
0 none
TOTAL responses: 511
98
Lack of training and know-how is a “strong” to “very
strong” barrier impeding the wider uptake of natural refrigerants,
a clear majority of 58% finds. This is followed
by technology & safety aspects, and cost issues – mainly
due to higher capital costs for natural refrigerant systems
and a lack of economies of scale for some applications.
Of less importance are unfavourable competition issues,
lack of demand or unavailability of systems in Europe to
the 511 respondents.
Similarly, the sub-set of respondents with no intention
to use natural refrigerants confirms training & knowhow
and a need for technology development as the two
strongest barriers (strong / very strong). However, they
contradict the appreciation that “psychology” – lack of
awareness and misconceptions – would constitute a major
barrier, but put a lack of supply and current market
conditions (demand / competition) much higher up in
the list of prevailing challenges.