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

MHI plans Euro launch of small split using refrigerant R454C

JAPAN: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has announced what it claims is the first small residential air conditioning system using lower GWP refrigerant R454C.

The demonstration unit is said to offer significant environmental progress over the current R410A and R32. In addition, MHI says it has overcome the shortcomings of the R454C, such as, for example, using proprietary technology and other measures to optimise heat exchanger flow.

Developed and marketed by Chemours as Opteon XL20, R454C is a blend of R32 and R1234yf. With a GWP 148, it is classified as an A2L “mildly flammable” gas.

MHI says preparations are underway towards mass production with an eye on an initial launch into the European market.

Last year, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries introduced a commercial air-source heat pump using R454C.

Related stories:

MHI develops heat pump for R454C – 5 March 2018
JAPAN: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has introduced a commercial heat pump using the little-known lower GWP refrigerant R454C. Read more…

Latest News

25th October 2026

Committee backs delinking gas and electricity prices

UK: The UK government should move all remaining energy transition policy costs from electricity costs onto the price of gas on energy bills, advises a new select committee report.
24th October 2026

House of Lords event marks HVACR Women Week

UK: As the industry prepares to celebrate the inaugural Global HVACR Women Week, the sector came together on Thursday to mark the launch and discuss the sector’s successes.
24th October 2026

Clivet rooftops using R454C

ITALY: Clivet has introduced a new generation of rooftop air-conditioning units using the lower GWP A2L refrigerant R454C.
23rd October 2026

Court installation judges R290 chillers

UK: Panasonic has supplied six 80kW ECOi-W Aqua-G Blue R290 chillers as part of a major cooling infrastructure upgrade at Leeds Magistrates Court.
23rd October 2026

Solid refrigerant firm receives $8.5m funding

USA: Pascal, a developer of barocaloric solid refrigerant technology, has raised additional funding of $8.5m to support the technology’s initial deployments with a multinational beverage manufacturer.
23rd October 2026

Westfalen opens R290 plant

GERMANY: Industrial gases manufacturer and retailer the Westfalen Group has opened a new plant to produce high-purity refrigerant R290 at its site in Münster-Gelmer.