Новые правила ЕС заставляют испанские супермаркеты инвестировать 2,5 млрд евро в модернизацию холодильных систем

New European Union regulations regarding fluorinated gases (F-gases) are driving Spanish supermarkets and self-service stores to undertake an accelerated overhaul of their refrigeration systems. ASEDAS, the Spanish association representing distributors and supermarkets, estimates that this transition will require an investment of over €2.5 billion. The association says the timetable set by Regulation (EU) 2024/573, including a 2030 restriction affecting certain refrigeration equipment, is putting pressure on Spanish supermarkets to accelerate upgrades. This additional financial commitment comes at a time of intense activity for the sector, which had already refurbished 40% of its store network – totalling over 10,500 locations – between 2020 and 2025. Food Distribution Sector The food distribution sector is urging for a review that is more adjusted to the state of technology – the availability of alternative solutions that ensure the viability of all operators and the appropriate F-gases. Beyond the financial commitment, the industry faces two major logistical challenges in meeting the regulatory timetable. First, Spain faces a structural deficit of nearly 10,000 qualified refrigeration technicians. While demand for specialised work has surged by 30% due to the transition, the workforce is growing by only 5-10%, according to the Association of Refrigeration Companies and their Technologies (AEFYT). ASEDAS warns that the EU’s tightening HFC quota could constrain supplies of some transitional refrigerants, and says some commonly used gases are already becoming harder to source, complicating maintenance of existing equipment while stores upgrade their systems. While it supports the EU’s long-term sustainability goals, the association has called for a more realistic and orderly transition timeline that takes into account the specific cooling needs of hot climates like Spain’s.