Natural refrigerant heat pumps are no longer a future promise – they’re here
A new joint investigation by Topten, the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and ECODES reveals that residential heat pumps using natural refrigerants are no longer just a future promise – they are already a reality in Europe.
The research found more than 310 air-to-water heat pump models using natural refrigerants such as propane (R-290) and carbon dioxide (CO₂ -R-744) available in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Switzerland and Luxembourg, produced by at least 48 different manufacturers.
These models meet or exceed A++ energy efficiency ratings, offering a low-carbon, high-performance alternative to conventional systems that rely on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
HFCs, widely used in heating and cooling, are potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials (GWPs) hundreds to thousands of times greater than CO₂. Natural refrigerants, by contrast, offer minimal climate impact and do not generate persistent pollutants such as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), unlike certain synthetic alternatives such as hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs).
These findings support a broader update to the Topten platform, an online tool to help consumers and professionals identify the most climate-friendly and energy-efficient products.
The focus of this update is to highlight models that align with the European Union F-gas Regulation, which will ban self-contained heat pumps using refrigerants with a GWP above 150 from 2027.
“This data sends a clear signal: the technology needed to decarbonise residential heating exists today and it’s scalable,” said Nicole Julien, Project Manager at ECODES. “Europe’s shift away from climate-damaging refrigerants isn’t just necessary – it’s already underway.”
These findings not only demonstrate that natural refrigerant heat pumps are available and effective but also confirm that many models achieve better energy performance and higher flow temperatures than their fluorinated counterparts, as highlighted in EIA’s Refrigerant Myth Busting report.
The updated Topten listings are now being integrated into national websites and the joint European portal, providing transparent, up-to-date information for consumers, installers, policymakers and other stakeholders looking to make climate-aligned choices.
EIA Senior Climate Campaigner Fionnuala Walravens said: “The transition is not just mandatory, it’s possible, practical and already happening.”
For more information, please contact:
Fionnuala Walravens, Senior Campaigner Climate EIA UK
fionnualawalravens[at]eia-international.org