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    1. Refrigeration

    Chemours to Provide Opteon Low GWP Refrigerants to 2022 Winter Olympic Venues

    Oct. 6, 2021
    Refrigeration systems in three Beijing Olympic venues will be charged with Chemours Opteon XP40 refrigerant.

    BEIJING, May 18, 2021 -- The Chemours Company has achieved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Beijing National Aquatics Center, Beijing National Indoor Stadium and Wukesong Sports Centre for use of Opteon™ lower global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants at the three venues.

    Participating in the memorandum signing ceremony were:

    • Ms. Gui Lin, chief of general planning division, Venue Planning and Construction Department of Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games;
    • Yang Qiyong, general manager of Beijing National Aquatics Center;
    • Wang Yue, general manager of Beijing National Indoor Stadium;
    • Ma Xin, vice president of Wukesong Sports Centre;
    • Alec Yan, Asia Pacific senior business director of The Chemours Company.

    The agreement supports the adoption of more sustainable solutions for the ice rink venues to help reduce the overall carbon footprint. 

    With 85 years of experience in refrigerant chemistry, Chemours Opteon™ refrigerants offer low-GWP, non-ozone depleting, and high-performance solutions. Since 2018, Chemours has supported the sports community with sustainable refrigerant solutions through their partnership with the National Hockey League.

    Chemours Opteon video
    Beijing National Indoor Stadium
    Beijing National Indoor Stadium
    Beijing National Aquatics Center, Beijing National Indoor Stadium and Wukesong Sports Centre were main venues for 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, and will be hosting hockey and curling ice games during the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. To support the mission of being "green, open, inclusive and clean" and to adopt more sustainable solutions, the venues in consultation with equipment suppliers, design engineers and service providers, selected Opteon™ XP40 (R-449A) refrigerant to provide reliable performance at the demanding low temperatures required for operating their facilities. Opteon™ XP40 provides an approximate 65 percent reduction in global warming potential (GWP) over hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants used previously, while cost-effectively enabling an energy efficient system design.

    "Three ice making units of Ice Cube have been charged with Opteon™ XP40," said Yang Qiyong. "This project saves 4 percent of the charge compared to other refrigerants and saves installation costs. During the test games in 2019 and in April 2021, the ice making units performed well and have guaranteed excellent ice surface temperature."

    "We commend the efforts of the venues to adopt a refrigerant with significantly lower GWP," said Alisha Bellezza, president of Thermal & Specialized Solutions at Chemours.  "This sets an example that positive steps can be made towards environmental sustainability, without sacrificing system performance or economic sustainability." 

    After redesign and retrofit, ice making units and systems that are charged with Opteon™ XP40 have been installed in Beijing National Aquatics Center and Beijing National Indoor Stadium. Wukesong Sports Centre, which was equipped with refrigeration pipes at construction in 2006, changed out their old ice making units. The new units have also adopted Opteon™ XP40 which reportedly is more energy efficiency and has lower environmental impact.

    Skaters participating in the upcoming Olympics played In a series of testing games at the three venues, and approved of the playability of the ice surfaces.

    THIS VIDEO provides additional information about the three ice venues and Opteon™ refrigerants.