From a purely economic analysis, ammonia should find broader APPLICATIONS as a refrigerant than it currently enjoys. However, to realise ammonia’s full potential as a refrigerant, safety regulations and technical standards around the world will be required to become more TAILORED to ammonia refrigeration systems and CONSISTENT across world markets.

Regulatory restrictions and a lack of clear ENCOURAGEMENT from policy makers to move towards natural refrigerants currently impede a wider spread of R717. To sum up, a deficit of promotion, a lack of technical and regulatory harmonization, missing guidance for operators, and a patchwork of national safety regulations pose excessive administrative and financial burden on the ammonia business. Politicians’ recognition of ammonia as a sustainable alternative to ozone-depleting and high global warming substances under international environmental programs could lift these barriers. To achieve this goal, data on the performance and use of R717 has to be updated and spread in coverage to allow for an informed choice.

From a purely economic analysis, ammonia should find broader applications as a refrigerant than it currently enjoys. However, to realise ammonia’s full potential as a refrigerant, safety regulations and technical standards around the world will be required to become more tailored to ammonia refrigeration systems and consistent across world markets.

Regulatory restrictions and a lack of clear encouragement from policy makers to move towards natural refrigerants currently impede a wider spread of R717. To sum up, a deficit of promotion, a lack of technical and regulatory harmonization, missing guidance for operators, and a patchwork of national safety regulations pose excessive administrative and financial burden on the ammonia business. Politicians’ recognition of ammonia as a sustainable alternative to ozone-depleting and high global warming substances under international environmental programs could lift these barriers. To achieve this goal, data on the performance and use of R717 has to be updated and spread in coverage to allow for an informed choice.