World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

Scottish HFC emissions rise by 188%

UK: HFC emissions increased by 188% between 2019 and 2020, according to new figures from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). 

Despite greenhouse gas emissions falling by 6% between 2019 and 2020, the latest Scottish Pollutant Release Inventory for 2020 reveals that HFC emissions saw a steep increase, totalling 3,636kg compared to 1263kg in 2019. The specific refrigerant(s) involved in the releases are not identified.

Five sites, three in the chemical sector and two food and beverage sites, reported emissions above the 100kg threshold in 2020. This compared to just two sites in 2019.  

SEPA says that regulatory work to investigate the chemicals sector releases is ongoing. The two food and beverage sites are said to have taken steps to upgrade their refrigeration to a non-F-gas system since 2020.

Latest News

15th June 2026

US aircon and heat pump shipments up 5.1%

USA: US shipments of central air conditioners and air-source heat pumps reached 837,098 units in April, an increase of 5.1% compared to April 2025. 
14th June 2026

MSAB to buy significant stake in Beijer Ref

SWEDEN: Family-owned Swedish investment company Melker Schörling AB (MSAB) is to become the largest shareholder, in terms of voting rights, in refrigeration wholesaler Beijer Ref. 
13th June 2026

Customs discover HFCs hidden in LPG tanks

POLAND: Not for the first time, attempts to smuggle refrigerant into Poland in car LPG tanks have been foiled by customs officers in Poland.
13th June 2026

Uniflair chillers for liquid-cooled data centres

ITALY: Schneider Electric has launched the Uniflair XCA series of air-cooled and free-cooling chillers to meet the demands of AI-driven, high-density liquid-cooled data centres. 
12th June 2026

German refrigerant leak rates down to 1%

GERMANY: Latest figures from Germany suggest that average refrigerant leak rates were down to just 1% in 2025.
12th June 2026

EPEE offers “cost-effective” answer to PFAS emissions

BELGIUM: A new report suggests that building on the European F-gas regulation, while further reducing leaks and increasing reclamation, would be the most cost-effective ways to reduce PFAS emissions.