Chemours Launches Low-GWP Refrigerants for Data Center Cooling

Chemours has launched two new refrigerants, Opteon ZE and Opteon 515B, designed for stationary chiller applications including data centres, commercial buildings and other cooling infrastructure. Both products are positioned as low-global warming potential alternatives to conventional high-GWP synthetic refrigerants that have historically dominated the HVAC and chiller industry. The products are available now in select markets, with broader availability expected to follow demand.

 

Opteon ZE, chemically known as R-1234ze(E), is a hydrofluoroolefin-based refrigerant with a global warming potential of approximately 1, referenced against the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report, and zero ozone depletion potential. That GWP figure places it far below conventional synthetic refrigerants, some of which carry global warming potentials in the thousands, meaning any refrigerant that leaks during operation, maintenance or disposal would contribute dramatically less to atmospheric warming than older refrigerant chemistries. The compound carries an ASHRAE A2L safety classification, indicating mild flammability, and is suited for air- and water-cooled chillers, commercial air conditioning, heat pumps and data centre cooling.

 

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Opteon 515B, or R-515B, is a blend of approximately 91.1 percent R-1234ze(E) and 8.9 percent R-227ea, with a global warming potential of approximately 293 referenced against the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report and zero ozone depletion potential. It carries an ASHRAE A1 classification, indicating no flame propagation, making it a non-flammable option for operators seeking a more conventional retrofit pathway when transitioning away from older, higher-GWP refrigerants without needing to accommodate the flammability handling requirements that lower-GWP alternatives sometimes carry.

 

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Chemours frames the launch around rising cooling demand from AI and data centre infrastructure, which the company says is driving higher heat loads and stricter uptime and efficiency requirements across the industry. Joseph Martinko, president of Chemours' Thermal & Specialized Solutions division, said the new products expand the refrigerant choices available to chiller manufacturers and operators building and maintaining systems for data centres, commercial buildings and other critical environments.