Madrid, Spain, 25 October 2017: The first ATMOsphere Ibérica was held yesterday in Madrid, Spain. The conference was the first ATMOsphere to be held in a language other than English and the first one to be sold out. Surpassing all expectations, ATMOsphere Ibérica attracted 155 participants, 14 sponsors and media partners and 24 speakers from Spain and Portugal.
Natural refrigerants was the focal point of discussions today in Madrid during the first edition of ATMOsphere Ibérica, an event focused on the opportunities and challenges for these solutions on the Iberian Peninsula.
The one-day programme included sessions such as market trends, policy updates, case studies and a panel focused on end-user experiences.
All sessions were centered on the Spanish and Portuguese markets except for one on ‘Opportunities in the Latin American market’, often the first-choice destination for Spanish industry looking at new markets.
‘Non-converted’ supermarkets attending
“Today Spain is perhaps not the easiest market for natural refrigerants, with the market characterised by misunderstandings and a lack of information on both the industry and end-user side alike,” said Alvaro de Oña, COO and head of media at shecco, the organiser of ATMOsphere conferences.
“In this context, ATMOsphere Ibérica was the perfect platform for discussion of natural refrigerants and will facilitate exchanges of knowledge and experience between those that are already in the market and ‘newbies’,” de Oña said.
Many Spanish supermarkets are only just starting to consider natural refrigerant technologies for their stores. Only a few stores in Spain (primarily Carrefour and Consum) are using CO2 transcritical technology. Thus the growth potential – not only for CO2 but for all natural refrigerants – is very significant in the region.
Spanish ministry announces sustainable refrigeration subsidy
Guillermo Martínez from the Spanish Ministry of Environment announced the launch of a new subsidy for sustainable refrigeration in a keynote speech to help industry to move forward. The new subsidy programme seeks to help the HVAC&R sector to comply with upcoming HFC phase-down deadlines under the EU’s F-Gas Regulation. Named ‘plan PIMA frío’, the total subsidy pot is €1.5 million and will help to co-finance new installations of sustainable refrigeration systems.
The subsidy will provide 15% of the total investment required. To be eligible, the systems will have to use low-GWP refrigerants, have a capacity above 40 kW, and include measures to improve the overall efficiency, such as the use of doors for cabinets under 6°C.
Industry is moving
Manufacturers are also offering a wider range of HFC-free solutions. The technology session at the conference provided an insight into several projects carried out in Spain.
The conference has attracted the attention of local stakeholders from the HVAC&R industry, end users, academia, NGOs and the public sector and exceeded all expectations in terms of attendance with more than 155 participants.
Sponsors
Gold: Exkal, Tewis, Arneg
Silver: Lu-Ve, Huayi Compressor Barcelona, Forst-Trol, Advansor, Pecomark, Carel, Koxka, Carrier
Media partner: AEFYT, Ashrae Spain Chapter, Croyfrio.com
Contact
Pilar Aleu
Deputy Events Manager
pilar.aleu@shecco.eu
