HFC Tax, Regulations and Technical Innovation Drive Uptake of Natural Refrigerants in Norway Retail

The combination of a GWP-based HFC tax, the EU F-gas Regulation and cooperative technical innovation has driven the uptake of natural refrigerants in Norway’s retail sector, according to a 2024 report.

The trade union magazine Fagbladet generated the report for the Norwegian Refrigeration Association based on a survey of four major supermarket chains ‒ Bunnpris, COOP Norge, NorgesGruppen and Rema 1000. All retailers indicate that over 80% of stores use natural refrigerants, primarily CO₂ (R744). However, propane (R290) may fit smaller store formats, with Bunnpris operating three locations solely with the A3 refrigerant in plug-in cabinets.

“The phase-out of HFC refrigerants by Norwegian grocery chains represents a proactive, industry-led contribution to fighting climate change,” the report said. “ It demonstrates that with the right mix of regulations, incentives, and industry commitment, nearly complete elimination of HFCs is possible within a decade.”

The 2022 EU ban on HFC refrigerants in new systems has accelerated the installation of CO₂ refrigeration in new European stores. However, Norway’s conversion rate to natural refrigeration also includes existing stores, with COOP Norge reporting being “nearly” HFC-free and the other three retailers on target to be so in 2030 or earlier.

Tax hit: Norway enforces a national tax on imported or supplied HFC refrigerants, calculated by multiplying the weight of the refrigerant by its GWP.

• The country progressively raises the tax each year. It increased by 23% in 2024 and 20% in 2025.
• “The HFC tax has been a key driver in Norway’s phase-out success,” Fagbladet said. “It directly aligns with the ‘polluter pays’ principle by internalizing the climate cost of HFCs.”

Technical advances: With the support of research institutions, manufacturers and government programs, Norway’s grocers benefit from knowledge-sharing to increase CO₂ efficiency, according to Fagbladet.

• In a cooperative pilot project, NorgesGruppen installed the first ejector in a CO₂ retail application in Norway in a Spar supermarket, one of its several chains.
• “The ejector helps recover expansion energy that would otherwise be lost, especially in warmer ambient conditions where standard CO₂ systems can struggle,” the report said, adding that it draws power more evenly to ease the strain on the power grid.
• Danish OEM Advansor said its ValuePack II, with low-pressure ejector and cylinder unloading technology, was first installed in a Spar supermarket in Røyken. On ambient days above 30°C (86°F), the ejector cuts the energy consumption by 58% compared to the previous system, Advansor noted.

Eco-labeling: SINTEF (the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research), a Norwegian organization focused on energy-related research and innovation, is leading an EU project to create a framework for a supermarket Ecolabel based on Norway’s HFC phase-out and energy-saving experiences.

• The report cites a Rema 1000 CO₂ store in Trondheim using 30% less energy than comparable stores.
• “By establishing a voluntary labeling scheme, the EU aims to encourage supermarkets to adopt state-of-the-art solutions and allow consumers to identify stores that meet high sustainability standards,” Fagbladet said.

Quotable: “The actions of COOP, NorgesGruppen, Rema 1000 and Bunnpris are fully in line with (and even ahead of) the required EU trajectory to cut HFCs by 79% by 2030,” the report said. “The fact that industry is moving faster than regulation is a positive sign for Norway’s climate plan – it indicates that the market is innovating and reducing emissions without waiting for last-minute compliance deadlines.”