22 June 2026
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At Climalife’s recent technical event in April 2026, Neil Roberts, Technical Sales Director, delivered a timely Market Update presentation, shedding light on the evolving regulatory landscape for refrigerants in Great Britain. With legislation set to dramatically reshape the industry from 2027, the event provided clarity, choices, and next steps for businesses preparing for the changes ahead.
Legislative change: The countdown to 2027
Neil emphasised that from 1 January 2027, GB is already committed to a guaranteed 23% cut in HFC quota availability - a non-negotiable baseline. The shift has already begun, with the EU leading the phase-down of HFCs. While Great Britain is not simply copying the EU’s approach, it is accelerating its own phase-down to reduce emissions of high-GWP F-gases. Northern Ireland, however, must still follow EU regulation (EU 2024/573), which was adopted in March 2024 and introduces stricter controls.
In GB, Defra launched a consultation in November 2025 on further phasedown scenarios, with industry responses submitted by Christmas. The outcome is still awaited, but the 23% cut for 2027 is locked in, and the new GB HFC phasedown could introduce even stricter limits from 1 January 2028. This is not a direct replication of EU rules; GB is taking a distinct path, focusing on a phase-down mechanism rather than placing-on-themarket bans. Defra has not ruled out future changes to placing-on-the-market bans and other aspects (training, certification, leak checking) but for the immediate future all these remain aligned with retained EU 517/2014 legislation.
GB’s ambitious proposals: High vs. Medium
Regardless of Defra’s final decision, compared to 2026 levels, GB is already committed to a guaranteed 23% cut in HFC quota availability from 1 January 2027. This baseline reduction is non-negotiable and will take effect as part of the existing framework.
Defra’s November 2025 consultation introduced three scenarios for further phase-down beyond this guaranteed cut:
- High ambition: Defra’s preferred option, which could push the total reduction compared to 2026 to 48% from 1 January 2027.
- Medium ambition: A less aggressive alternative compared to the High Ambition scenario (34% reduction) but still more than the current planned reduction.
- Most challenging: Deemed potentially unfeasible for industry to achieve.
Through consultation with the RACHP industry, the Federation of Environmental Trade Associations (FETA) has proposed to Defra a ‘hybrid’ option where the current planned reduction in 2027 is retained but then from 2030 the proposed medium ambition option is followed.
After the Climalife event Defra announced on May 15th, 2026, that there will not be any change beyond the 23% quota cut in 2027, but no further details were given on when, or to what extent the quota phasedown timetable will change after 2027. It is very clear there will be a continued rapid reduction of HFC quota with less than 10% of HFC quota available by 2048 under all the proposed scenarios.
The refrigerant pathway: low GWP as the only option
Neil underscored that all new equipment should be installed with refrigerants below 1000 GWP. The industry is already seeing a shift, with lower-GWP options like R-32 and R-1234ze becoming commonplace in air conditioning. However, in commercial and light industrial refrigeration, highGWP refrigerants are still being specified - despite the availability of low-GWP alternatives such as R-454A, R-454C, and R-455A, which have proven manageable after an initial learning curve.
For those trailblazing companies that have embraced A2L refrigerants, the transition has become routine. Yet, retrofit options for existing equipment remain limited. The presentation highlighted that there are no easy retrofit options for systems using high-GWP refrigerants, and compliance with standards (EN 378, DSEAR, PE(S)R, PSSR) is critical - especially when considering A2L or A3 refrigerants. Systems designed for A1 refrigerants are unlikely to be compatible with A2L or A3 without significant modifications, and manufacturers stress that retrofits should only be undertaken with regulatory approval and industry standards in place.
Retrofit options: Not a solution this time
One of the most pressing questions from the event was: What are the retrofit options? The answer, as Neil presented, is stark: very few retrofit options below 1000 GWP are available. The presentation illustrated the lack of easy retrofit solutions for existing systems with virtually none below 600 GWP for the majority of applications, reinforcing the message that new installations must prioritise low-GWP refrigerants from the outset.
Key takeaways for industry
- Act Now: The phase-down is imminent, and the 23% cut is locked in - plan for it now.
- Low GWP is non-negotiable: For new installations, refrigerants with GWP <1000 are the only sustainable choice.
- Compliance is king: Adherence to standards and regulations (EN 378, DSEAR, PE(S)R, PSSR) is more critical than ever, particularly with flammable refrigerants.
- Energy efficiency matters: While GWP is a focus, total lifetime emissions and energy efficiency should drive refrigerant and system selection.
- Retrofit Realities: With no easy retrofit options for most high-GWP systems, the emphasis must be on future-proofing new equipment.
The road ahead
The refrigerant landscape is already changing, and the message from Climalife’s event was clear: the time to act is now. With the 23% reduction guaranteed, and the potential for even stricter reductions under Defra’s High Ambition plan, GB’s phase-down demands urgent attention. The EU may be further ahead, but businesses in GB must prioritise compliance and low-GWP alternatives to avoid being left behind.
As Neil concluded: “Low GWP alternatives are available for new installations. Start using them today!”
For more information, contact Mel Summers at [email protected]
