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Fluorinated Gases (F-Gases)

F-gases have extremely high global warming potentials, often thousands of times that of CO₂.

F-gases are released from various sources, including cooling/refrigeration and aerosols.

One F-gas sub-thesis focuses on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are used primarily in refrigeration and air conditioning systems and contribute to over 2 gigatons of CO2e annually.
What's the problem?
  • Fluorinated gases (F-gases) are a critical focus area due to their extremely high global warming potentials—often thousands of times that of CO₂—and their long atmospheric lifetimes, despite being emitted in much smaller quantities.
  • Our focus to date has been on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in refrigeration and air conditioning systems, as they are a rapidly growing source of emissions.
  • SF6, which is used as an electrical insulator in high voltage equipment, is another area of interest given its high GWP of 24,300.
Who are the key players?
  • Nearly 80% of HFCs are currently used as refrigerants in cooling and air conditioning systems.
  • Demand for air conditioning units worldwide is projected to nearly triple by 2050, as climate change intensifies and the developing world begins to adopt more HVAC units.
  • High-GWP refrigerants are gradually being phased down, given push from major HVAC OEMs as well as guidelines in place from the EPA and Kigali Amendment. As such there is a clear need for high performance HVAC systems that do not rely on high emission HFC refrigerants.
What does AccelR8 think?
Disruptive innovations are needed in each the 1) HVAC and 2) high-voltage electrical spaces to reduce reliance of HFC refrigerants and SF6 insulants, respectively.
  • We have identified two key potential paths towards reducing HFC emissions in HVAC: 1) novel HVAC systems that reduce reliance on HFC refrigerants and 2) processes to recover/reuse HFC refrigerants in existing systems.
  • Innovative HVAC systems that remove the need for refrigerants are currently being developed (see: Calion). However, given the quickly growing demand for HVAC systems globally and existing phase-down regulations, additional disruptive innovations are needed at both the systems level and refrigerant end of life.
  • An alternative to SF6 for electrical insulation is another critical unmet need; to our knowledge, there are no known solutions to date, despite the excessive emissions profile and likely incoming regulations.
How can you help?
If anyone is aware of, or actively working towards, solutions to reduce f-gas emissions and/or decarbonize the HVAC industry, please let us at AccelR8 know!
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Questions.

What we look for.
What we look for in founders:

We back founders building great companies at the speed and scale necessary to avert climate tipping points. We look for founders who are:

Problem Solvers: You obsess over customer problems, not just the tech. Your goal is rapid, widespread adoption.

Relentless Builders: You thrive on creating products, closing deals, and cultivating high performing teams. You embrace the hustle.

Visionary Leaders: Your clear and compelling vision inspires others to join and make it a reality.

Adaptive Learners: You fail fast, learn quicker, and constantly push to build a world-class company.

What we look for in companies:

We invest in and build companies that transform physical industries. We back solutions that solve acute problems for industrial customers and governments by being cheaper, better, and faster. Specifically, we look for companies that are:

Impactful: Demonstrable potential for significant, quantifiable GHG reduction and climate resilience within 20 years.

Feasible: Technology proven at TRL 3-4+ with a clear path to scalable, probable deployment and adoption driven by market pull.

Economic: Compelling unit economics, validated by robust techno-economic analysis, leveraging capital-efficient models and possessing global economic potential.

Formidable: Led by a committed team with the essential technical and commercial expertise.

Where we're at our best:

We provide strategic and active partnership from the earliest stages of company formation, preferring to lead pre-seed and seed rounds. Our support is hands-on and focused on shortening market feedback cycles, ruthlessly prioritizing and delivering on milestones, and developing world class talent and organizations. We primarily invest in North American-based teams building companies with transformative technology and great execution.

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