The Ministry of the Environment has opened its fall call for applications to support the phase-out of fluorocarbons from and decarbonization of refrigeration and cold-storage equipment. The program covers the installation of equipment using natural refrigerants, with the subsidy rate generally capped at one-third, and applications accepted from 14 September through 13 October, with submissions required to arrive by 5 p.m.
The Ministry of the Environment announced the launch of the fall call for applications under its program to promote the phase-out of fluorocarbons from and decarbonization of refrigeration and cold-storage equipment supporting the cold chain. The program covers cold-storage warehouses, food manufacturing plants and food retail stores, and subsidizes part of the cost of installing equipment that uses natural refrigerants. The subsidy rate is expected to be generally capped at one-third.
The application period runs from 14 September through 13 October. Applications should be submitted to the Japan Refrigerants and Environment Conservation Organization, the program’s implementing organization. The program is intended to promote initiatives that contribute to global-warming countermeasures by switching to natural refrigerants, compared with the current use of fluorocarbons with high global-warming potential as refrigerants.
The background is the energy consumption of commercial equipment supporting the cold chain, as well as fluorocarbon emissions from refrigerant leakage and disposal. The industry is being urged to switch to natural refrigerants such as CO2 and ammonia. Applications open on 14 September and close on 13 October, with submissions required to arrive by 5 p.m. Contact details for the Japan Refrigerants and Environment Conservation Organization, including its email address and website, have been provided.