The EU as a whole has enforced the phase-out of high-GWP refrigerants (GWP > 750) through the F‑Gas Regulation, making R290 the mainstream compliant option. The following countries/regions have explicitly mandated or strongly promoted its use:
Germany, Netherlands, Sweden: Mandatory priority use of R290 in monobloc heat pumps, with subsidies tied to certification.
France: Under RE2020 regulations, GWP must be ≤ 150, and R290 (GWP ≈ 3) is the only compliant natural refrigerant.
Denmark, Switzerland: Impose heavy taxes on HFCs and restrict charge volumes, mandating R290 in commercial and public buildings.
UK, Italy, Spain: Implement unified EU standards, prohibiting high-GWP refrigerants in new heat pumps.
North America (US / Canada): Driven by the SNAP program and carbon taxes, R290 is permitted in residential heat pumps ≤ 8kW, with California and other states enforcing low-GWP requirements.
