Towards a low emissions future

Refrigerant timeline

1st generation refrigerants Chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs)

  • Importation of CFCs into Australia has been banned for years
  • Most countries stopped producing CFCs by the mid 1990s and it was phased out by 1995
  • In developing countries a total phase-out was agreed by 2010 in the Montreal Protocol

2nd generation refrigerants Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)

  • Total phase-out in developed countries by 2029
  • Total phase-out in developing countries by 2040

3rd generation refrigerants Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

  • Phase-down passed by Australian government in 2017
  • Phase-down in Australia began 1 January 2018
  • 85% reduction in Australia and in other developed countries by 2036
  • 80% reduction in developing countries by 2045

4th and current generation refrigerants Hydrofluoro-olefins (HFO)

HFOs are being increasingly used. HFOs have low global warming potentials, typically under 150.  Many of them, however, are also classified as A2L refrigerants (mildly flammable) and industry needs to adapt its practices to maintain a high level of safety.

Hydrocarbons, ammonia and CO are also increasingly used as refrigerants. They have a very low (or zero) GWPs, but there are issues of extreme flammability, toxicity and high pressure. All refrigerants have their place, and they all need to be used appropriately by trained technicians.