Air Conditioners and Refrigerators makers on track to phase out HFCs

India: India’s leading air-conditioner and refrigerator manufacturers have increased their focus on manufacturing cooling appliances which use hydro chlorofluorocarbon technology (HCFC), as this technology has a less impact on the ozone layer and scrap out the conventional hydrofluorocarbon technology (HFC) to reduce global warming. The move to use of greener gases has commenced already in the high-end invertor air-conditioners models and the respective manufacturers are geared up to introduce by 2018-2019.

India though will start introducing such appliances by 2032 whereas on the other hand, China being the world’s largest manufacturer of HFCs appliances, does not intend to start its production before 2029. India has already phased out the R22 refrigerant and has adopted appliances like R410A. Godrej Appliances has adopted the technology of non HFC gases like R32 and R290 as they are freely available. Brands like Panasonic India has the advanced technology which is used in greener appliances as in invertor air-conditioners and it will lead to an incremental cost to some extent. But at the same time being reliable and efficient in operation so the additional costs seem to be balanced with reliable, efficient and environmental friendly products.

According to Techsci Research, Global white goods manufacturers have the opinion on increase prices to make air-conditioner and refrigerator variants that will use the new HCFC technology. As for India white goods manufacturers can easily adapt to this technology as the road map will already been built as the global models would be already available.

According to a recently published report by TechSci Research, “India Air Conditioners Market By Product Type, By End Use Sector, By Tonnage Capacity, By Top City Competition Forecast & Opportunities, 2011–2021”, the air conditioners market in India is anticipated to cross US$ 6 Billion by the end of 2021. Light commercial air conditioners segment dominated the country’s air conditioners market in 2015, and the segment is anticipated to maintain its dominance over the next five years as well, owing to their various advantages such as energy efficiency, lower running cost, easy availability and integration of latest technologies. Southern states in India generates the highest revenue from air conditioners in the country, followed by northern states. Few of the leading players operating in India air conditioners market includes Voltas, LG, Daikin, Samsung, Blue Star and Hitachi, among others.