World News

FINLAND: The European proposals to restrict the use of PFAS chemicals have received more than 5,600 comments from more than 4,400 organisations, companies and individuals.

USA: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has agreed penalties totalling over $250,000 with two food producers for violating safety laws governing their ammonia refrigeration systems.

BELGIUM: The European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) has requested an exemption for F-gases and fluoropolymers in any forthcoming PFAS restrictions.  

KENYA/MOLDOVA: Kenya and Moldova have become the latest countries to confirm acceptance of the Kigali Amendment.

USA: A group of 25 state governors and the Biden administration have pledged to quadruple the number of heat pumps in US homes to 20 million by 2030. The 25 governors make up the US Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition representing approximately 60% of the US economy and 55% of the US population. Announcing the commitments at a Climate Week NYC event, this week, White House national climate advisor Ali Zaidi said: “Combined with President Biden’s historic climate leadership, these bold commitments by governors to cut emissions from buildings will have a catalytic impact across America. “It will clean up the air our children breathe, save hardworking families money on their monthly energy bills, strengthen America’s climate resilience, and create good-paying jobs in every corner of the country.” 

GREECE: Two people have been arrested in the Greek town of Florina, northwestern Macedonia, for the illegal transport of 149 cylinders of  refrigerant.

BELGIUM: Daikin Europe has said it will not renew the contracts of 500 temporary employees at its plant in Ostend, due to a sharp fall in heat pump sales.

FRANCE/BELGIUM: US manufacturer Lennox has entered into an agreement to sell its European commercial HVAC and refrigeration businesses, headquartered in Lyon, to funds managed by Syntagma Capital. 

EUROPE: While the full implementation of a new European F-gas regulation is likely to be delayed, it is believed that negotiators are keen to reach agreement next month.

GERMANY: Carrier Commercial Refrigeration is collaborating with Munich-based IoT technology company Relayr to provide a refrigeration-as-a-service offering to customers.

ITALY: Vertiv has upgraded and increased the capacity of its chilled water test facility near Tognana, Italy.

FRANCE: The French Refrigeration Association, AFF, has called on its national representatives to persuade the European authorities to adopt realistic and balanced measures in the current F-gas negotiations.

SWEDEN/DENMARK: The Nordic Climate Group has further increased its presence in Denmark with the acquisition of Buus Køleteknik and Nordkøl.

SWEDEN: Swedish manufacturer Qvantum has acquired Electrolux’s Hungarian refrigerator factory with a potential output of one million propane heat pumps per year.

SWEDEN: Heat pump start-up Aira has signed a license agreement with Swedish manufacturer ES Energy Save Holding said to be worth up to SEK400m (€34m). 

ITALY: Commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturer Epta has strengthened its presence in the north of Germany with the acquisition of the refrigeration activities of Heifo GmbH.

USA: LG air conditioning users in the US could now earn rewards from their units following a tie-up with residential energy management company OhmConnect.

ROMANIA: Twenty-six cylinders of refrigerant hidden in a minibus have been seized by Romanian border police as the illegal traffic across the border with Ukraine continues. 

GERMANY: The patents and other assets of Efficient Energy GmbH have been acquired by Vertiv, owner of Liebert-brand chillers, following the German company’s insolvency.

EUROPE: A new report confirms that heat pumps can provide the most efficient heating in many cold climates around the world.

USA: Lower GWP HFC/HFO blend refrigerants R471A and R515B have been added to the US EPA’s list of acceptable substitutes under its Significant New Alternatives Program (SNAP).

USA: Leading US HVACR equipment distributor Watsco has completed the acquisition of Gateway Supply Company, a distributor of plumbing and HVAC products with locations in North and South Carolina. 

EUROPE: With F-gas negotiations reaching a critical point, industry has repeated its concerns about the costs and effectiveness of a full F-gas ban as proposed by the European Parliament.

DENMARK: Thomas Dalsgaard has taken over as CEO at Beijer Ref Denmark. He replaces Claus Bo Jacobsen who has stepped down after 14 years in the role.

EUROPE: A large group of companies working with “natural” refrigerant-based solutions have signed a letter calling on policymakers to show further ambition in the revision of the F-gas regulation.

UAE: Johnson Controls is to introduce cooling as a service (CaaS) with a UAE-based customer this year.

TURKEY: The Turkish supplier of the refrigerant shipment recently seized by Romanian customs has congratulated the authorities for their diligence and denied any knowledge of the trade being illegal.