Wilmington, Del., January 31, 2023 – The Chemours Company reports it started to take orders from North American customers in December for its Opteon™ XL41 (R-454B) hydrofluoroolefin refrigerant. The company will start to fulfill those orders by the end of first quarter 2023.
Opteon XL 41 is an R-410A replacement in new air conditioning and heat pump applications, with zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and an approximate 78 percent reduction in global warming potential (GWP) when compared to R-410A (AR4 GWP). Chemours reports Opteon is the lowest GWP replacement for R-410A alternatives available at this time. It is classified as a low-flammability (A2L) refrigerant.
The availability of Opteon XL41 refrigerant comes approximately one year ahead of the next major scheduled step-down outlined in the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. Starting January 1, 2024, regulations will require an additional 30 percent reduction in hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) production and consumption. Amidst this regulatory landscape, Opteon XL41 will offer customers product longevity.
“As the industry prepares for the next HFC phasedown, Chemours is fully committed to supporting a diverse group of HVACR applications in making a successful transition to sustainable refrigeration solutions,” said Alisha Bellezza, president, Thermal & Specialized Solutions at Chemours. “We are excited that so many of the major players in equipment manufacturing recognize the environmental and performance efficacy of Opteon XL41. Together, we are ensuring the refrigerant and equipment are readily available to support an industrywide move to the lowest possible GWP operation without sacrificing performance," Bellezza said.
According to sources, most leading original equipment manufacturers have selected Opteon XL41, including Carrier, Johnson Controls, and Rheem, which have announced alignment with Chemours for the utilization of this product. Chemours reports that OEM system design changes required for Opteon XL41 will be minimal, and it is expected that new equipment filled with the refrigerant will be available to customers before 2025.
In addition to product innovation, Chemours commits extensive resources to provide customers with the training, technical support, customer service, and product supply necessary to upgrade, maintain, and service new equipment.
Chemours will spotlight Opteon XL41—which was recently selected as the cooling category winner in the 2023 AHR Expo Innovation Awards—and other solutions in the Opteon portfolio during the 2023 AHR Expo in Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 6-8, 2023. Chemours will exhibit at booth C-6425 in the Georgia World Congress Center.
Supporting the anticipated growth in demand for Opteon XL41 and steady demand growth for other ultra-low GWP refrigerants in the Opteon portfolio, Chemours’ $80 million capital expansion project and debottlenecking efforts at Chemours in Ingleside, Tex., located 20 minutes outside of Corpus Christi, – will increase production capacity by approximately 40 percent. The expansion project will help Chemours meet the significant increase in product orders and aligns with the company’s corporate responsibility targets.