Strabag Umwelttechnik Building ‘World’s Largest Heat Pump’ in Germany
Germany-based environmental technology company Strabag Umwelttechnik announced it is building a 165MW (46,916TR) isobutane (R600a) heat pump for a district heating network in Mannheim, Germany, which it said will be the largest heat pump in the world once complete. It’s being built for the energy company MVV Energie and will use the Rhine River as its heat source. The heat will be raised to 130°C (266°F) and will supply up to 40,000 households in the Rhine–Neckar metropolitan area with heat. It will be delivered in two modules each with a heating capacity of 82.5MW (23,458TR), with construction set to begin in mid-2026.
Danfoss Introduces New EEV for CO2 Refrigeration Systems
Danfoss has launched the ETS 5T, a new electronic expansion valve (EEV) for CO₂ (R744) refrigeration systems with a capacity of 4–19kW (1.13–5.4TR). It’s based on the ETS 5M, designed for use with synthetic low-GWP refrigerants, which is the smallest EEV on the market, according to Danfoss. The 5T has a maximum working pressure of 140bar (2,030psi) and a maximum operating pressure differential of 120bar (1,740bar), and it can support a refrigerant and ambient temperature range from −40 to 80°C (−40 to 176°F). The 5T is “an ideal choice for transport air-conditioning systems, condensing units, display cases and cabinets, and reversible systems,” said Danfoss.
Zero Zone Expanding Systems Division
American manufacturer Zero Zone is expanding its refrigeration systems factory in Ramsey, Minnesota, by 57,000ft2 (5,295m2), with the expansion scheduled for completion by the end of 2026. The company shared the news with NaturalRefrigerants.com via email, with general contractor Bauer Design Build posting about the expansion on its Facebook page. Zero Zone said the expansion will support production, product testing and training, with production capacity for “larger, more advanced refrigeration systems” increasing by 30%. Zero Zone builds commercial and industrial racks and chillers using synthetic refrigerants as well as CO2 and ammonia (R717).
Pakistan Ratifies the Kigali Amendment
Pakistan has ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, becoming the sixth country in 2025 to ratify the Kigali Amendment. The others are Brunei, the Central African Republic, Nepal, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saudi Arabia. To date 169 countries have ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, with 2024 seeing eight new ratifications.
