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Grants are launched to encourage companies to switch to low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants

Singapore, 12 October 2020 – The National Environment Agency (NEA), Economic Development Board (EDB) and Building and Construction Authority (BCA) announced the launch of three new grants to encourage companies to make an early switch to water-cooled chillers using lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants. The switch will help reduce Singapore’s greenhouse gas emissions arising from the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in the refrigeration and air-conditioning (RAC) sector.

HFCs are a class of chemicals that are commonly used as refrigerants in RAC equipment. When emitted into the environment, HFCs are much more potent than carbon dioxide in contributing to global warming. As one of the measures for Singapore to reduce emissions, NEA intends to restrict the supply of water-cooled chillers using high-GWP refrigerants from the fourth quarter of 2022.

A low-GWP refrigerant chiller, which uses refrigerants with GWP of 15 or less, generally results in lower energy costs as it is more energy efficient but has higher upfront cost than a high-GWP refrigerant chiller. The three grants will support companies to switch to low-GWP refrigerant water-cooled chillers and smoothen the transition to the use of climate-friendly RAC equipment.

BCA will administer the grant under a new scheme, Grant for Low-GWP Refrigerant Chillers, which supports eligible owners or operators of existing building types similar to those regulated under the Environmental Sustainability Measures for Existing Buildings Regulations 2013.

The grants for industrial facilities and data centres will come under the existing Energy Efficiency Fund and Resource Efficiency Grant for Energy (respectively administered by NEA and EDB). Companies that do not meet any of the above criteria may contact NEA to check on their eligibility for the grant.

­– Construction+ Online

Source: BCA