June 16, 2025, 10:20 am | Read time: 3 minutes
The European Union plans to ban certain refrigerants used in heat pumps and air conditioning systems starting in 2027. Here’s what you need to know.
Heat pumps are considered among the most climate-friendly heating methods. More and more homeowners are choosing them over oil and gas heating systems, partly due to the government’s future heating plans. However, heat pumps are not entirely without concerns regarding climate protection. They are partly operated with refrigerants known as F-gases, which are considered environmentally harmful. The EU now plans to ban these refrigerants for heat pumps—industry associations fear significant burdens.
EU Aims to Achieve Climate Protection Goals
The EU Parliament and the European Council have agreed to remove certain refrigerants from the market starting in 2027. By 2050, a total ban on these F-gases in the EU is planned. The ban is intended to meet the EU’s self-imposed climate protection goals. So far, this is only a draft—according to the Federal Environment Agency, Parliament and Council only need to formally approve it for the regulations to take effect.
F-gases are short for fluorinated greenhouse gases. These are considered significantly more harmful to the climate than CO2. They are used in air conditioners, refrigerators, and also in heat pumps. The EU has not yet released detailed information on the refrigerant ban for heat pumps.
Also of interest: 5 Common Questions About Heat Pumps
Industry Associations See Significant Burdens
The industry association, the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), views the accelerated phase-out primarily as a short-term significant burden. In a statement, it says that production capacities are already being massively expanded to meet EU goals. The new ban could initially slow this process, as everything would need to be converted.
Furthermore, the agreement will contribute to making heat pumps even cleaner—however, it will not accelerate the shift away from fossil fuels for heating and cooling. Instead, it could even slow the process, as it complicates the introduction of heat pumps, according to the EHPA.
Each heat pump replaces a fossil fuel heating boiler and reduces CO2 emissions. If there are not enough heat pumps, consumers will opt for fossil heating systems instead, explains Alessia Del Vasto from the EHPA.
The industry association European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE) also views the planned ban less positively. EPEE board member Russell Patten states in a statement that the agreement will undoubtedly prolong reliance on fossil fuels.
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Propane as an Alternative
Heat pumps operated with F-gases could alternatively use propane as a refrigerant in the future. This is more environmentally and climate-friendly, but it also carries risks. Propane can easily ignite. The EHPA therefore calls for political support, such as training for installers and modern production facilities for safe handling of flammable refrigerants.