Asahi Glass has reached a decision to construct a new facility to produce the next generation refrigerant, HFO1234yf for use in car air conditioners on the grounds of their Chiba plant located in Goi, Chiba Prefecture. Plans call for the plant to be completed around mid 2015. The gas produced will be supplied to the US firm Honeywell. The 2 companies made an announcement regarding this on January 23.

HFO1234yf is a gas which has been attracting attention as a refrigerant which is highly capable in terms of coping with the environment. Its global warming coefficient is under 1 compared with 1,300 of HFC134a. Its atmospheric lifetime is under 1/500 of 134a. This gas can be used in the European market which regulates usage of refrigerants with a GWP of 150 and higher under certain conditions in accordance with the MAC (Mobile Air Conditioning) Directive. In addition, auto producers in the US, which use this gas, will be obtaining credit for reducing the emission of greenhouse effect gas based on the approval of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

134a, which has a comparatively high GWP, is being used and regulated only in the European market as of this time. Even in Japan, however, the outlook is that as of 2015 usage of refrigerants with a high GWP will start to be reduced. It is predicted that around 2017 the switchover from 134a to 1234yf will go onto full swing.

Right now in Japan, the supply of 1234yf is mainly from small plants operated by a part of car airconditioner producers. Up to now only the 2 US companies Honeywell and DuPont have been in the lead in the commercialization of this gas. For the Japanese market, it seems that the both companies have been going to produce this gas in the US and China and then to import it into Japan when the demand in Japan were really to get underway. However, the decision reached for the current investment at the Asahi Glass plant has brought about the prospect of arranging for a safe, self sufficient supply in Japan.

In the announcement by Asahi Glass and Honeywell, the production capacity of the new plant and the amount of the investment as well as the details of the contract signed by both companies were not revealed. However, looked at from the point of view of the current demand for 134a, it is estimated that production capacity would be on the order of several thousand tons a year. It was stated in the news release of Asahi Glass that, ?We will establish a new, highly efficient production plant.? It will be based on their own fluorine chemical technology. They appear to produce 1234yf completely using their own unique in house production technology.

Honeywell has been engaged in development in conjunction with DuPont so as to be able to use this gas as a refrigerant for car air conditioners. The ?application patent? the company holds is used mutually by DuPont. Therefore, the 2 companies will be working together in terms of the production and taking over of this gas in some countries and regions.

However, the announcement did reveal that Honeywell would tie up with Asahi Glass regarding 1234yf in the Japanese market. It appears that DuPont is in the lead regarding the current supply of this gas in Japan. It is predicted, however, that after the new plant goes on stream competition between the 2 companies would be heating up. It does seem that the focus will now be on whether DuPont goes into full scale production in Japan.

As the next refrigerant to follow along after 134a, 1234yf has in effect obtained an endorsement from the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). The supply arrangement however has yet to be set up, and the actual demand in Europe only started up last year. Therefore the view has been that commercialization in Japan is lagging considerably. Asahi Glass has very close ties with the Japanese automotive industry. With the decision by Asahi Glass to go ahead with production, not only will commercialization be given a boost, but it could also be said to be good news for the auto producers who now see their options regarding procurement expand.