SINTEF Launched Tool to Replace Synthetic Refrigerants
The F-MAP project aims to build an open-source model to assist industries in transitioning to natural alternatives.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Environmental
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SINTEF has launched the three-year F-MAP project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme, to develop an open-source tool for managing the shift from harmful fluorinated gases to natural refrigerants. The initiative responds to the need for reliable data on transition costs and equipment performance as regulations tighten.
Why it matters
As global air-conditioning capacity is projected to grow 2.5-fold by 2050, the lack of standardized transition paths and the prevalence of illegal F-gas trade threaten climate goals. This project provides a technical framework to evaluate alternative refrigerants and mitigate environmental leakage.
The project will leverage the EnergyModelsX open-source optimisation framework to model refrigeration lifecycle costs and leakage rates. It builds on existing successes, such as the 10 million natural refrigerant heat pump water heaters produced to date.
The players
SINTEF
An independent European research organization specializing in technology and science that manages large-scale collaborative infrastructure projects.
Horizon Europe
The European Union's key research and innovation funding programme that supports multi-national projects addressing environmental and technological challenges.
The details
The F-MAP tool functions by collecting and harmonizing data on installed equipment quantities and F-gas leakage rates. By utilizing EnergyModelsX—an open-source system for managing energy-related data—researchers aim to compare different refrigerant transition scenarios. This approach addresses the current lack of a standardized way for authorities to calculate the environmental and economic impact of moving away from F-gases.
Timeline
Late 1980s: SINTEF and NTNU began early research into natural refrigerants.
22 September 2026: The project consortium met in Trondheim to officially launch the initiative.
Within 18 months: Researchers plan to release the first version of the F-MAP modelling tool.
2031: A ban on SF6 gas in electrical switchgear takes effect in Europe.
2050: Global air-conditioning unit volume is projected to reach 2.5 times 2021 levels.
The Tech Race
This effort builds on the European regulatory trajectory, specifically the 2031 ban on SF6 gas in electrical switchgear, to create a viable alternative model. The initiative moves beyond isolated research toward a unified, cross-border system for benchmarking natural refrigerant adoption.
Industries and policymakers will gain a standardized tool to evaluate transition costs and equipment longevity within the next 18 months. This framework aims to reduce dependence on synthetic gases, impacting the long-term reliability and environmental footprint of commercial cooling systems.
The takeaway
The F-MAP initiative seeks to bridge the gap between regulatory mandates and actionable industry data for refrigerant replacement. Stakeholders should track the release of the first tool version in 18 months as a critical benchmark for the feasibility of transitioning large-scale cooling infrastructure.
Further reading
For broader context on sustainable technology infrastructure, explore our coverage in Environmental.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SINTEF.
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