By Eamonn Ryan
The Green Cooling Summit 2026, hosted by the German Environment Agency (UBA) and GIZ Proklima on behalf of BMUV and BMZ, and facilited by Julika Schmitz, is built around a technically simple but strategically complex problem:
Julika Schmitz, facilitator. © RACA Journal
Why is R290 (propane), a proven high‑efficiency, low‑GWP refrigerant, still struggling to gain a significant share in the room air‑conditioning (RAC) market – and what is needed to make it a standard? This is part two of a two-part series.
Building on the context and technical assessment in Part 1, Part 2 focuses on how R290 can transition from a technically viable option to a widely adopted standard in room air‑conditioning. It looks at regulatory frameworks, market dynamics and practical implementation models, using country experiences and case studies discussed at the Green Cooling Summit 2026.
- Regulatory and standards enablers
Country perspectives at the summit highlight that regulation and standards can either unlock or block R290 deployment:
- Codes and standards
- Updating building codes, electrical safety rules, and installation standards to explicitly accommodate A3 refrigerants
- Revising charge‑size limits and equipment categories based on modern risk assessments and updated international standards
- Alignment with international climate policy
Using Kigali Amendment implementation and HFC phase‑down schedules to:
- Create clear market signals favouring low‑GWP refrigerants
- Avoid lock‑in to transitional HFC or HFO blends where R290 is feasible
The summit’s discussions underline that regulatory clarity and predictability are prerequisites for long‑term investment in R290 manufacturing lines and service infrastructure.
- Market, supply chain and capacity measures
To move R290 toward standard status, several market and capacity measures are identified:
- Manufacturing and product development
- Supporting re‑tooling of production facilities for A3 refrigerants
- Encouraging high‑efficiency R290 product lines via standards, labelling and incentives
- Integrating safety‑by‑design principles (component selection, enclosure design, control systems)
- Servicing and workforce development
Scaling training programmes for technicians on:
- Safe handling of flammable refrigerants
- Leak detection and mitigation
- Retrofit and end‑of‑life procedures
- Ensuring availability of appropriate tools and protective equipment
- Market uptake and risk management
- Using financial incentives, public procurement or demonstration projects to de‑risk early deployment
- Addressing insurance and liability questions through guidelines and best practice frameworks
- Communicating benefits and safety measures to end‑users and authorities to improve acceptance
These measures are designed to shift R290 from a perceived “special case” toward a mainstream, low‑GWP option across RAC market segments.
- Practical examples and replication
The summit showcases country cases and practical examples where R290 RAC has been successfully implemented. Key lessons include:
- System‑level optimisation
- Designing equipment explicitly for A3 refrigerants rather than retrofitting HFC platforms
- Combining efficiency improvements (such as better heat exchangers, inverters) with R290 to maximise climate benefit
- Integrated policy packages
- Co-ordinating standards updates, incentives and training rather than acting in isolation
- Using public sector buildings as early‑adopter markets for R290 RAC
- Replication and scaling
- Documenting and standardising technical and organisational approaches
- Creating knowledge platforms and peer‑learning mechanisms between countries and regions
These examples demonstrate that safe, large‑scale R290 deployment is feasible when technical, regulatory and market instruments are aligned.
- Strategic outcomes and next steps
In conclusion, the Green Cooling Summit 2026 positions R290 as a strategic refrigerant for climate‑aligned cooling in room air‑conditioning. To make it a standard, stakeholders must:
- Clarify and modernise regulatory frameworks for A3 refrigerants in RAC.
- Invest in manufacturing, training and service infrastructure dedicated to R290.
- Leverage policy instruments and market incentives that explicitly reward low‑GWP, high‑efficiency solutions.
- Scale proven implementation models through regional and international co-operation.
If these conditions are met, R290 can progress from a promising alternative to a core pillar of sustainable cooling strategies worldwide.
