GIZ Highlights Emission Reduction Potential of R290 Air Conditioners
- brg_news_room
- 14 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Germany: GIZ Proklima released an updated version of its “R290 Split Air Conditioners Resource Guide” in 2025, outlining the potential environmental impact of wider adoption of propane-based split air-conditioning systems. According to the organisation, global emissions from split AC systems could decline by 25% if propane (R290) units achieve a 50% market share. The guide also compared the incremental material and refrigerant costs of a 5 kW (1.4 TR) single-split air conditioner using refrigerants including R32, R1270 (propylene), R290, R1234yf and R152a, with R410A used as the reference point.
The report found that propylene had the lowest total incremental cost among the refrigerants analysed, followed by propane and R32. GIZ Proklima stated that the environmental and economic aspects of propane-based single-split ACs raise questions about why the technology has not become more widely adopted. The organisation plans to address this topic during the 2026 Green Cooling Summit, a virtual event scheduled for 19–20 May, which will also examine propane chillers and factors affecting their adoption in the commercial comfort cooling and heating market.
Source: Natural Refrigerants
