Enerblue, an Italian manufacturer of propane (R290)- and CO2 (R744)-based heat pumps and chillers, has joined the world’s leading natural refrigerant HVAC&R stakeholders as a silver partner of the NaturalRefrigerants.com marketplace.
Founded in 2007, Enerblue has worked with CO2 and R290 for more than a decade. While the company continues to produce systems using synthetic refrigerants, its focus is increasingly on natural alternatives.
“Propane and CO2 are central in the development of our heat pumps,” Enerblue says on its website. “The use of very low-GWP, high-efficiency natural refrigerants is now our mission.”
According to Francesco Zanzo, Product Manager at Enerblue, around 65% of the company’s total sales volume come from its natural refrigerant-based units. Between 2018 and 2024, Enerblue sold more than 1,000 propane-based units globally, with continued demand driven by the HVAC&R market’s pivot away from synthetic refrigerants.
“Propane and CO2 are central in the development of our heat pumps. The use of very low-GWP, high-efficiency natural refrigerants is now our mission.”
Enerblue
Enerblue’s business growth is reflected in its ongoing expansion efforts. The company is currently constructing a new 10,000m2 (107,639ft2) manufacturing facility near its existing 4,000m2 (43,055ft2) site in northern Italy. The new facility is expected to be operational by late 2025.
According to Zanzo, the U.S. commercial sector is Enerblue’s largest market for its CO2 units. The Nordic countries, the rest of Europe and the U.S. are key markets for the company’s propane technologies.
The company is active in several key international markets, with the U.S. commercial sector representing the largest market for its CO2 heat pumps. Its propane-based technologies have gained traction in the Nordic countries, the rest of Europe and the U.S., the former of which is seeing an accelerated transition to natural refrigerants.
Expanding product portfolio
Enerblue has a well-established portfolio of natural refrigerant-based technologies for commercial and industrial applications. The company produced its first R744 heat pump in 2012 and its first R290 chiller in 2013.
Among its flagship products is the Purple range of air-to-water R290 heat pumps and chillers, first introduced in 2014. Now in its fifth generation, the series offers heating capacities of 22–221kW (6.3–62.8TR) and cooling capacities of 28–290kW (8–82.4TR), depending on the model.
Last year, Enerblue launched the Palladium range of reversible air-to-water propane heat pumps, which includes a four-pipe model capable of providing simultaneous heating and cooling, delivering water temperatures of up to 70°C (158°F). The units are designed for both new-build and retrofit projects, with one recently installed at the London offices of Greenpeace.
For larger-capacity applications, particularly in air-conditioning and process cooling, Enerblue’s new Silver range of R290 chillers offers cooling capacities of 308–768kW (87.6–218.3TR).
Enerblue’s product lineup also includes the Steel and Iron R290 heat pumps and the Iridium water-to-water CO2 heat pump, which can produce water temperatures as high as 90°C (194°F), making it ideal for high-temperature applications.
