Warning of rising gas prices and supply issues

UK: British businesses are advised to engage proactively with suppliers and stay informed of availability in the face of rising refrigerant price rises and supply issues.

With the government seemingly dragging its feet on introducing its own revision to the British F-gas regulation, leading gas supplier National Refrigerants has advised that gas price increases in the UK are already being felt and are likely to continue throughout the year.

Both the EU and the UK have previously operated under F-gas quota restrictions to drive down the use of high-GWP refrigerants. While the EU overhauled and accelerated its phase-down schedule in 2024, the original F-gas regulation (517/2014) remains in place for England, Scotland and Wales, post Brexit.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has consulted on proposals to adjust the existing schedule from 2027 and adding further steps from 2030 until 2050. It also proposes replacing the 79% reduction by 2030 target with a target of a 98.6% reduction by 2048. 

“Great Britain currently sits at 31% of its baseline quota, while the EU has already reduced to 24%, with a further planned drop to 13.1% next year – almost halving the available supply,” said National Refrigerants’ commercial director Simon Ravenscroft.

“By comparison, UK legislation currently targets a reduction to 24% by 2027. However, this is under review, with proposed changes suggesting a further cut to 16.2%, representing close to a 50% reduction in available quota.”

Ravenscroft insists that these reductions are expected to tighten supply and push prices higher for traditional, high-quota-consuming refrigerants. “Price increases are already being felt and are likely to continue throughout the year,” he said. “As the phase-down progresses, the challenge will shift from finding the best price to simply securing supply.”

National Refrigerants advises businesses to engage proactively with suppliers and stay informed on availability: “The coming years will be increasingly demanding as the industry enters the final stages of the phase-down toward full phase-out.”

National Refrigerants points out that, while high GWP refrigerants, like  R404A, were once the primary phase-out targets, their interim alternatives – R448A, R449A and R452A – are now also under pressure from tightening quotas, with availability and cost becoming key concerns.

“Businesses should now be actively evaluating long-term, sustainable alternatives,” advises Simon Ravenscroft. “This transition will not be without challenges, as many lower-GWP solutions involve higher operating pressures or increased flammability classifications—often requiring system redesign or complete equipment replacement.

To support this transition, National Refrigerants has published a simple refrigerant route planner, outlining viable long-term options by application.

Related stories:

UK opens F-gas phase-down consultation – 5 November 2025
UK: The government’s Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), has opened its consultation portal seeking views on proposals to amend the F-gas phasedown schedule in Great Britain. Read more…