Low-GWP Refrigerants in Europe: Comparing R32, R290, and Next-Gen HFOs for Mobile Splits

The phrase low-GWP refrigerant covers a diverse family of chemicals ranging from propane at GWP 3 to R454B at GWP 466, and the European regulatory landscape is moving all of them from niche status to mainstream adoption through the F-Gas quota phase-down mechanism. For anyone specifying or purchasing a mobile split air conditioner today, understanding the low GWP refrigerants list in Europe is not just an environmental exercise — it directly determines which units will still be economically serviceable in 2030 and which will become stranded assets in a refrigerant market that is becoming progressively more restrictive.

What counts as a low-GWP refrigerant under EU F-Gas regulations?

The EU F-Gas Regulation (517/2014, revised under the 2024 recast) does not define a fixed numerical threshold for low-GWP, but the regulatory structure creates an effective boundary at GWP 750. Refrigerants above GWP 750 face progressively tighter quota restrictions that raise their cost and limit availability through the phase-down timeline; those at or below GWP 750 either sit within a lower-burden quota band or, in the case of natural refrigerants like R290 and R744, fall outside the HFC quota mechanism entirely.

GWP (Global Warming Potential — a dimensionless index comparing the heat-trapping effect of one kilogram of a substance over 100 years relative to one kilogram of CO₂, which has GWP 1 by definition) is measured using IPCC AR5 (Fifth Assessment Report) values in EU regulatory quota calculations, although the 2024 F-Gas recast has begun transitioning some provisions to AR6 values. All figures in this post use AR5 values for consistency with current EU market documentation and product labelling.

What is the current list of low-GWP refrigerants approved in Europe for air conditioning?

The principal low-GWP refrigerants currently approved for air conditioning use in Europe include R32 at GWP 675, R290 at GWP 3, R1234yf at GWP 4, R1234ze(E) at GWP 7, R454B at GWP 466, and R744 at GWP 1. Each carries distinct safety classifications, charge-size implications, and practical suitability for different application formats. No single refrigerant dominates all portable AC categories — R32 leads in mobile splits, R290 in under-counter designs, and R744 in commercial heat pump systems.

Latent heat values represent approximate figures at typical evaporating conditions around −15°C; they vary with operating pressure and temperature. R744 operates in transcritical mode above its critical temperature of 31.1°C, which complicates a direct latent heat comparison — the 321 kJ/kg figure reflects subcritical performance. R466A (GWP 733, ASHRAE A1 — non-flammable, which would remove the flammability engineering constraint) is in field trials but not yet commercially available in EU-certified portable AC products as of 2025.

Which low-GWP refrigerants are already in production mobile split AC units today?

As of 2025, R32 is the overwhelmingly dominant low-GWP refrigerant in European production mobile splits, with virtually all new-generation PortaSplit-class units using it. R290 is present in a growing category of under-counter micro-splits and domestic refrigerant-cycle products but has not yet appeared commercially in wall-mount or free-standing portable split configurations rated above approximately 2 kW. R454B is appearing in larger residential and light-commercial split systems as a direct R410A replacement but has not penetrated the portable segment in meaningful volume. R1234yf and R1234ze(E) remain primarily in specialist applications.

Why is R32 currently the dominant low-GWP choice for European mobile splits?

R32 dominates mobile split AC because it combines an acceptable GWP (675 — roughly one-third of R410A), manageable A2L flammability that existing EU supply chains and technician training programmes handle competently, a latent heat of vaporisation that enables the small-diameter micro-hose architectures that make mobile splits genuinely portable, and a mature global manufacturing base that keeps component costs competitive. No other refrigerant currently available offers the same combination of substantially reduced GWP, commercial maturity, and thermodynamic suitability for the 2–4 kW portable application format.

The R32 ecosystem in Europe is well established: F-Gas certified technicians familiar with A2L handling, approved recovery equipment, compatible hose and coupling materials, and a supply chain of compressor oils and sealants qualified for R32 contact. This infrastructure maturity means field service is straightforward and spare parts are available across all major European markets — critical for a unit expected to operate through 15+ years of seasonal connect/disconnect cycles. R290 offers superior thermodynamic and environmental properties but lacks equivalent infrastructure maturity outside specific product categories.

What role does R290 propane play in Europe's low-GWP refrigerant transition?

R290 propane has the lowest GWP of any practical AC refrigerant at GWP 3, and the highest latent heat of vaporisation at approximately 428 kJ/kg at −15°C, making it thermodynamically optimal for portable split applications if charge-size constraints can be managed. The primary limitation for residential use is the EN 378 and IEC 60335-2-40 charge restriction of approximately 150 g per independent refrigerant circuit in accessible spaces, which currently limits individual cooling capacity to approximately 1.5–2.5 kW per circuit.

The R290 trajectory in the EU market is clearly upward. Bosch, Daikin, Midea, and several European brands have announced R290 portable and residential split product lines for 2025–2027. The 2022 edition of IEC 60335-2-40 expands permitted charge sizes in specific installation configurations, potentially extending R290's reach into the 2–4 kW range that dominates the mobile split market. If these revised provisions are widely adopted, R290 could displace R32 as the dominant low-GWP mobile split refrigerant within a decade.

The edge case: HFO refrigerants and TFA environmental persistence raise long-term questions

A significant environmental concern about the HFO (Hydrofluoroolefin — a class of unsaturated fluorocarbon refrigerants with very low GWP values, including R1234yf and R1234ze(E)) refrigerant family is that their atmospheric degradation produces TFA (trifluoroacetic acid — a persistent organic pollutant formed when fluorinated organic molecules oxidise in the atmosphere, with no known natural biodegradation pathway). TFA accumulates in closed water bodies — lakes, reservoirs, and coastal wetlands — and has been detected at rising concentrations in European rainwater, with some measurements in Germany and Austria exceeding the EU drinking water quality guideline of 2.2 μg/L. While TFA's regulatory status is still evolving under the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, some environmental researchers argue that HFOs represent a transitional rather than permanent climate solution.

What is the EU F-Gas phase-down timeline and how does it affect refrigerant availability?

The EU F-Gas Regulation's quota mechanism reduces the total CO₂-equivalent volume of HFCs placed on the EU market annually against the 2009–2012 baseline. By 2030, the quota falls to 15% of that baseline; by 2033, specific bans prohibit HFCs above GWP 150 in newly manufactured hermetically sealed refrigeration equipment and selected air conditioning categories. For mobile split AC owners, the critical implication is that R410A systems will become progressively more expensive to service as quota restriction raises refrigerant prices — already above €50/kg in 2024 — toward and eventually beyond €100/kg by 2028–2030.

The phase-down milestones directly relevant to portable AC owners are: 2025 (quota at 45% of baseline), 2027 (30%), 2030 (15%), and 2033 (ban on HFCs above GWP 150 in specified new equipment categories). R32 at GWP 675 falls above the 2033 threshold for some equipment categories under current draft provisions, which means the regulatory future for R32 beyond 2030 is not fully settled — another factor driving the industry toward R290 and HFO blends for products designed to maintain serviceability through a 15-year ownership horizon.

Bought an R32 unit in 2024 knowing the F-Gas rules are tightening. R32 is almost certainly serviceable through 2030 at reasonable cost. If I were buying something I needed to last until 2040, I would look much harder at R290 units — their refrigerant has essentially zero quota pressure forever and the installations I have seen are beautifully engineered.

How do you choose the right low-GWP refrigerant for a new mobile split purchase?

The decision balances climate impact, serviceability, performance, and regulatory longevity. For most European buyers in 2025, R32 represents the optimal balance across all four criteria. R290 is preferable on climate and thermodynamic grounds but constrained by charge limits and A3 installation requirements. HFO-based units offer very low GWP but carry TFA persistence uncertainty and are not yet widely available in the portable split segment. Avoiding R410A in any new purchase is clear-cut given the regulatory trajectory.

• Choose R32 if: you want mainstream availability, F-Gas certified technician support across all EU countries, proven service infrastructure, and confident serviceability through at least 2030–2032 without major cost escalation.
• Choose R290 if: you are installing an under-counter or micro-split application where sub-150 g charge limits match the cooling requirement, you prioritise minimum lifetime GWP impact, and your installer holds A3 refrigerant certification.
• Consider R454B or R1234yf-based blends if: you are replacing an existing R410A commercial system and need a drop-in replacement that reduces GWP by approximately 75–80% while staying within the existing system's pressure and materials envelope.
• Avoid R410A in any new purchase regardless of price: rising quota costs, declining refill availability from 2025 onward, and the 2027–2030 regulatory cliff make it an economically poor choice for any installation expected to operate for more than five years.

Key takeaways on low-GWP refrigerants for European mobile splits

Europe's low-GWP refrigerant landscape for mobile split AC is dominated by R32 at GWP 675 in current production, with R290 at GWP 3 as the long-term optimal choice and R454B as the primary commercial-scale R410A replacement in larger systems. The EU F-Gas phase-down will progressively raise the cost of servicing any unit charged above GWP 750, making today's refrigerant selection directly relevant to total ownership costs in 2030. R32 offers the best current combination of proven infrastructure and genuine climate improvement; R290 offers the best absolute environmental performance for applications where its charge constraints are acceptable.

The R32-charged and R290-charged mobile splits at the forefront of Europe's low-GWP refrigerant transition are consistently the fastest-selling portable air conditioners during heatwave events, when demand spikes and shelves empty within hours. Register a free restock alert today and be ready when the next wave of high-efficiency, low-GWP units appears on shelves.