Hydrocarbons | Refrigerants Ireland | R290 Specialists
Hydrocarbon refrigerants are naturally occurring substances used as alternatives to synthetic refrigerants in commercial and industrial refrigeration and HVAC systems.
The most common in use today are propane (R290) and isobutane (R600a).
Unlike traditional synthetic refrigerants such as R410A or R404A — which are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) with extremely high Global Warming Potential (GWP) – hydrocarbon refrigerants have a near zero environmental impact, contain no fluorine, and are not subject to F-Gas phase down restrictions.
As EU regulations continue to tighten around high GWP refrigerants, hydrocarbon systems represent the most future-proof, compliant, and environmentally responsible choice for new installations and system upgrades.
At AeroClime, we are fully certified and experienced in the installation, commissioning, and maintenance of hydrocarbon refrigerant systems – including some of the first units of their kind commissioned in Ireland.
The shift to R290:
It’s not just “low impact,” it’s nearly zero.
According to the latest IPCC AR6 report, R290’s environmental impact is even lower than previously estimated.
R290 was previously reported to have a GWP of 3.
Updated science from the IPCC AR6 report now confirms its actual footprint is significantly lower.
The updated figures:
✅ GWP (100-yr): 0.02
✅ GWP (20-yr): 0.072
✅ ODP: 0 (Zero Ozone Depletion)
Why this matters for your business:
Regulatory Safety: Systems using R290 are futureproofing against tightening EU F-Gas bans.
Sustainability Leadership: Moving away from R410A (2088 GWP) to R290, it can reduce your direct emissions footprint by 99.9%.
Future Proofing your site: Many synthetic ultra-low GWP alternatives (HFOs) are currently under scrutiny in the EU, due to their classification as PFAS (forever chemicals).
PFAS free: As a pure hydrocarbon, R290 contains no fluorine and is unaffected by any current or proposed PFAS legislation.
See some of our recent hydrocarbon commissioning projects here →
Ready to Future-Proof Your Site?
Whether you are planning a new installation, upgrading an existing system, or simply want to understand what the F-Gas phase-down means for your site, our engineers are happy to talk it through with you – no obligation, just straightforward expert advice.
