The ATMOsphere Podcast Network

This Expert Opinion column has been written by Ritesh Raj, a Growth Engineer at Mindlabs Cloud, which deploys IoT (internet of things)-based environmental monitoring systems across pharmaceutical cold chains, GMP (good manufacturing practice) manufacturing facilities and regulated cold storage operations around the world. Here, Raj writes about the need for cold storage operators to revisit their temperature monitoring sensor placement and calibration assumptions after transitioning from HFCs to naturals.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

German OEM ebm-papst has built a new propane (R290) heat pump demonstration unit featuring its CompaNamic oil-free turbo compressor.The demonstration unit is a monobloc air-to-water heat pump with a capacity of 23kW (6.5TR). It can produce hot water at 70°C (158°F) and operate in ambient conditions ranging from −10 to 30°C (14 to 86°F). Ebm-papst is one of the leading fan manufacturers in the HVAC&R industry and said its focus with the demonstration unit is “on the interaction between the fan, evaporator system, refrigeration circuits and electronics.”Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The articles in the podcast are as follows:Industry Roundtable: CO2 Condensing Units Are Gaining Traction in North AmericaATMO America: Americold Deploys Single-Stage Transcritical CO2 Refrigeration at New 542TR Canadian WarehouseBeijer Ref Installs ‘Largest CO2 Refrigeration System’ in South Korea at Incheon AirportPart 1: Driving Data Center Efficiency: How Alfa Laval Turns Heat Into Opportunity

In addition to what we published this week, these stories caught our eye.GEA Builds 2.4MW Ammonia Cold Storage Facility for a South African Fruit ProducerIntellihot Acquired by Zurn Elkay Water SolutionsFrance Amends Regulations Prohibiting A3 Refrigerants in High-RisesWashington State Establishes Refrigerant Task Force⁠Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com⁠

Cold storage warehouse operator Americold has deployed single-stage compressors in its new 542TR (1.9MW) transcritical CO2 (R744) warehouse in New Brunswick, Canada, according to Phillip Walker, General Manager at TechnoRef4, the engineering firm that designed the system.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.

Alfa Laval is a global manufacturer of heat transfer, separation and fluid-handling solutions headquartered in Lund, Sweden. It was founded in 1883 and originally manufactured milk separators, with its first heat exchanger produced in 1938. Today Alfa Laval has more than 30 manufacturing sites across the globe and 22,000 employees.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

Global HVAC&R wholesaler and manufacturer Beijer Ref Korea has installed what it said is “the largest CO2 refrigeration system in South Korea,” a 200kW (56.8TR) CO2 (R744) system at Incheon Airport. The refrigeration system is currently in the final stages of commissioning and verification, Beijer Ref Korea said.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.

There were 5,120 supermarkets with transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration systems in North America (Canada and the United States) in 2025. While that’s just 6% of all supermarkets in North America, CO2 refrigeration has been growing rapidly in the sector, with installations jumping roughly 75% from 2023 to 2025.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The articles in the podcast are as follows:Interview: Güntner’s Head of Technologies and Innovation on the Transition to Natural Refrigerants and How Its Enhancing System PerformanceEpta Middle East Commissioning 370kW CO2 Refrigeration System for Dubai HypermarketIRN 2026: CO2 Refrigeration Supports Cruise Industry’s Sustainability Efforts, Says BitzerHigh-Temperature Heat Pumps Standardized at up to 130°C, with Demos Pushing Beyond 160°C, Says Danish Technological InstituteATMO America: New York Environmental Agency Declares Support for Natural Refrigerants

In addition to what we published this week, these stories caught our eye.Propane Heat Pumps Replace Gas Boilers in Sydney Office TowerNASRC Release R-TRADE Workforce Development ReportThe GIZ Displays Prototype Propane Reefer in HamburgAn Opportunity for CO2 in New Zealand’s Dairy Industry Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

For Michael Freiherr it’s not a matter of “if” the world will transition to natural refrigerants but rather “when” and how quickly. As the Head of Technologies and Innovation – as well as a Managing Director – at Güntner Group Europe, Freiherr is well-positioned to make such a bold statement. Güntner has worked with natural refrigerants since its founding in 1931 and today has offices in more than 50 countries and six factories across Europe, Asia and the Americas.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

Epta Middle East, part of the Epta Group, is commissioning a 370kW (105.2TR) ECO2GIANT CO2 (R744) refrigeration system as part of a hypermarket renovation in Dubai. The CO2 racks will provide cooling for all of the hypermarket’s refrigerated cabinets and coldrooms, including chillers and freezers, Andrea Cavalet, General Manager of Epta Middle East, told NaturalRefrigerants.com. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com. 

Projects reported by European suppliers indicate that high-temperature heat pumps (HTHPs) are becoming standardized for outlet temperatures of up to 130°C (266°F), with demonstrations pushing temperatures beyond 160°C (320°F), according to Martin Pihl Andersen, a consultant at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI).Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

“If businesses are going to invest money in equipment that’s supposed to last for decades, can we help them just leapfrog over temporary solutions to something that’s future proof?” asked Suzanne Hagell, Chief of the GHG Mitigation Bureau, Office of Climate Change, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). “That’s what we would rather spend public funds on.”Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

As a non-toxic, non-flammable refrigerant with a GWP of 1, CO2 (R744) is the “preferred choice” for refrigeration on passenger ships because it supports the cruise industry’s sustainability efforts, according to Manuel Reichle, Product Manager of Reciprocating Compressors at Bitzer.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

In addition to what we published this week, these stories caught our eye.Vitalis CO2 Heat Pump Cuts Emissions at Canadian University by 350 TonnesEmergent Cold LatAm Uses CO2 Refrigeration System for New Blast-Freezing Tunnels in Chilean Cold Storage FacilityPrimaFrio Trials Semi-Trailer Liquid Nitrogen Refrigeration SystemSwegon Releases New R290 Commercial Heat PumpTrane Announces New Propane Deep Freezing ChillerRead the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The articles in the podcast are as follows:ATMOsphere Launches Global Directory for Natural Refrigerant Equipment Manufacturers, Distributors, Installers and ConsultantsATMO America: IIAR Updating CO2 Safety Standard to Address High-Pressure IssuesATMO America: M&M Carnot Outlines Advantages of CO2 for Data Center CoolingEIA Urges U.K. to Adopt National Cooling Plan that Includes Natural RefrigerantsArneg Offering R290 Glycol Chillers for Small-Format Stores

Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) has announced a limit of GWP 150 for refrigerants in supermarket refrigeration and mobile air-conditioning (MAC), with the supermarket restriction coming into force July 2027 and the MAC restriction July 2028. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)’s London office has released a briefing urging the U.K. government to publish a National Cooling Action Plan that, among other things, calls for an accelerated phaseout of f-gases and the adoption of natural refrigerants.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

With 10 years of experience in CO2 (R744)-based data center cooling in North America, M&M Carnot, a subsidiary of Johnson Controls, outlined the refrigerant’s advantages and key market trends in a presentation at ATMOsphere America Summit 2026.M&M Carnot has deployed over 260 CO2 systems for data center cooling, including 200 computer-room air conditioners (CRAC), 41 chiller/heat pumps and 20 in-row AC units. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

Star Refrigeration has installed a 290kW (82.4TR) low-charge ammonia (R717) system in a warehouse in Daventry, England, for British pub operator J D Wetherspoon.The 192,000m3 (6,780,416ft3) warehouse stores food, drink and other consumables and serves as a national distribution hub for the chain. The facility is divided into three areas: a 31,000m3 (1,094,754ft3) frozen store, a 24,000m3 (847,552ft3) chilled store and a 137,000m3 (4,838,109ft3) ambient store. The facility is operated by DHL on behalf of J D Wetherspoon.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration (IIAR) is updating its safety standard for CO2 (R744) to reflect new approaches to high pressures in transcritical CO2 systems. The updates were explained by Eric Smith, IIAR’s Vice President and Technical Director, at the ATMOsphere (ATMO) America 2026 conference in Tarrytown, New York on June 2.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com#GoNatRefs #NaturalRefrigerants #ATMOAmercia #CO2

Italian manufacturer Arneg offers propane (R290) chillers with an integrated glycol pump as part of its portfolio of natural refrigerant solutions for small-format stores, according to Enrico Zambotto, the company’s Technical Engineering Director of Refrigeration Systems.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, has launched a global directory for natural refrigerant equipment manufacturers, distributors, installers and consultants. The directory contains listings for more than 550 companies across 53 countries on six continents, with new companies added daily. Marc Chasserot, CEO of ATMOsphere, said the goal is to have 5,000 companies in the directory in the next year.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com#GoNatRefs #NaturalRefrigerants #Directory

Lync by Watts showcased the flexibility of its CO2 domestic hot water heat pump for large-scale electrification at ATMOsphere America Summit 2026, highlighting its availability in air-source, water-source and hybrid configurations.Andrew Macalusco, Senior Product Manager of System Solutions at Lync by Watts, outlined the technology in a presentation about commercial HVAC market trends.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

In addition to what we published this week, these stories caught our eye.ATMOsphere and Arneg Korea Host Event in SeoulECOOLTEC’s TRUs a Fit for Most Electric TrucksLG Releases Launches New R290 Heat Pump in EuropeU.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Challenge to AIM ActRead the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The articles in the podcast are as follows:ATMO America: M&M Carnot CO2 Chillers Cool 1.3MW Heat Load at Evocative’s California Data CenterATMO America: Alternative Cooling Start-Ups Seek Industry Partners to Commercialize TechnologyAHRI and Other Trade Groups Challenge U.S. EPA’s Reconsideration of Technology Transitions RuleVolkswagen Canada Offers the ID.4 EV with a CO2 Heat PumpSystemair Launches Packaged Air-Handling Unit with Integrated R290 Heat Pump

There are more than 1 million Volkswagen electric vehicles (EVs) on the road with CO2 (R744) heat pumps, which includes a handful in Canada.Volkswagen Canada has offered the ID.4 since 2021, and many of the vehicles sold in Canada have been equipped with a CO2 heat pump, according to the Mobile Air-Conditioning Society. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com#GoNatRefs #NaturalRefrigerants #CO2 #Heatumps #Volkswagen #electricvehicles

The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy on June 25 petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review a final reconsideration rule revising the 2023 Technology Transitions Rule that was announced on May 21 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com#GoNatRefs #NaturalRefrigerants #EPA #AHRI

Danish component manufacturer @Danfoss has launched a new line of oil separators and receivers for transcritical CO2 (R744) systems, rated at a maximum working pressure of 140bar (2,030psi). Suitable for CO2 chillers, heat pumps and refrigeration systems, the new OUB line spans capacities from 89 to 1,400kW (25.3 to 398.1TR) and is available in both serviceable and hermetic models. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com#GoNatRefs #NaturalRefrigerants

Global HVAC supplier Systemair has launched Geniox HP DFN, a new packaged air-handling unit (AHU) with an integrated propane (R290) heat pump.Systemair positions the R290-based unit as a future-proof solution that complies with relevant EU environmental regulations; it meets strict f-gas requirements and is PFAS-free under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals), the EU’s chemicals regulation.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

Three start-up companies that have developed alternative cooling and heating technologies that don’t use standard vapor compression are seeking to partner with manufacturers of natural refrigerant-based systems to bring their products to the marketplace.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

Lithuania-based manufacturer Refra has delivered a 2.4MW (682TR) CO2 (R744) refrigeration system for an entire cold-storage facility in London operated by a foodservice wholesaler. The 44,129m2 (475,001ft2) facility “is designed to become a showcase of efficiency, capacity and service in the U.K.,” wrote Refra.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

In a retrofit application, M&M Carnot, a subsidiary of Johnson Controls, supplied CO2 (R744) chillers to cool approximately 1.3MW (370TR) of IT heat load at Evocative’s Santa Clara, California, edge colocation data centeRead the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

In addition to what we published this week, these stories caught our eye.Systemair Announces Air-Handling Unit with Integrated Propane Heat PumpPanasonic Launches New Residential CO2 Hot Water Heat Pumps in AustraliaDanfoss to Donate 100 Refrigeration Training Benches to Schools WorldwideCopeland Releases Global Impact Report Highlighting Importance of Natural RefrigerantsEnex Technologies Secures €33.5 Million ESG-Linked Refinancing FacilityRead the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The articles in the podcast are as follows:⁠ATMO America: Buc-ee’s Opens Its First Travel Center with CO2 Refrigeration in Ohio⁠⁠ATMO America: UL Working Group Aims to Update Propane Charge Limits for HVAC by 2028⁠⁠Magnotherm Announces Stellar, a 125kW Refrigerant-Free Magnetic Cooling System for Data Centers, HVAC and Industry⁠⁠SCM Frigo Starts Up 2.8MW Transcritical CO2 Refrigeration System for ‘Global Cosmetics Company’ in France⁠⁠Transcritical CO2 Refrigeration Expands Across Australia and New Zealand⁠

Italian manufacturer SCM Frigo has started up a 2.8MW (796TR) transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration system featuring heat reclaim for a French facility in the beauty and cosmetics industry.The project was initially announced at the 2025 IRN conference in Rottenburg am Neckar, Germany, last JuneRead the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

To highlight the theme of this year’s World Refrigeration Day, the Secretariat behind the commemoration has established a “2026 Cool Intelligence Showcase” featuring photos sent in by refrigeration stakeholders from around the world along with their comments about the meaning of cool intelligence and how they use it.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The use of transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration in commercial and industrial applications continues to rise in both Australia and New Zealand, according to ATMOsphere’s report “Refrigeration: Commercial and Industrial Refrigeration with Natural Refrigerants.”Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

A UL working group focused on updating charge standards for flammable (A3) refrigerants like propane (R290) in HVAC applications such as outdoor monobloc heat pumps is aiming to finish revised text in 2027 that will be incorporated in the 2028 (fifth) edition of the UL/CSA 60335-2-40 safety standard for electrical heat pumps, air-conditioners, and dehumidifiers used in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

U.S. manufacturer Zero Zone is supplying a 91TR (320kW) transcritical CO2 (R744) refrigeration system for a new grocery fulfillment center in Nashville, Tennessee, according to Director of Industrial Sales John Collins.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com, has launched a new website showcasing the 2026 ATMO Approved Label Companies.The site features individual profiles for all of the companies approved for the 2026 version of the label. Each profile contains an “impact report” that details how the company’s products or work – contractors are also eligible for the label – have contributed to a reduction in CO2 and TFA (trifluoroacetic acid) emissions.\Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

Magnotherm has announced Stellar, a new refrigerant-free magnetic cooling system with a max capacity of 125kW (35.5TR) designed for both commercial refrigeration and commercial HVAC.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

Commercial refrigeration manufacturer Epta is focused on providing integrated sustainable solutions, with its EptaTechnica brand offering modular CO2 (R744) systems, new Zenith cabinets compatible with CO2 or propane (R290) and Servitization equipment management.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

On April 6 Texas-based Buc-ee’s opened its first travel center featuring CO2 (R744) refrigeration in Huber Heights, Ohio, according to Scott Ray, the company’s Director of Design, Construction and Procurement.⁠Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com⁠

In addition to the industry’s general growth, its acceptance of higher water temperatures and simultaneous concerns around excessive water use have stoked demand for Jaeggi’s hybrid dry cooler. Jeffrey Hargreaves, Business Development Director for Data Centers at Jaeggi, has been in the data center industry for more than a decade, and, since he started, acceptable water temperatures for cooling have climbed from 17°C (62°F) to as high as 28°C (82°F).Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)’s Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has concluded that trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), formed in the atmosphere by the breakdown of certain f-gases, should be classified and labelled as toxic to reproduction.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

In addition to what we published this week, these stories caught our eye.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

A major American tech company is decarbonizing hydronic space heating and domestic hot water production in its San Francisco Bay Area buildings by replacing legacy gas boilers with water-to-water CO2 (R744) heat pumps manufactured by Flow Environmental Systems.Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com

After receiving industry input, the U.K.’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced that it will delay implementing changes to the country’s HFC phasedown schedule.The proposed changes, which were open for public comment from November 5 to December 17, 2025, were intended to address shortcomings in the U.K.’s HFC phase-out commitments. Read the full story on NaturalRefrigerants.com.