Work out your R290 refrigerant emissions
= 0.1 kg CO2e in 2026 (Scope 1)
Each kg × 0.060000 kg CO2e, the 2026 UK government (DESNZ) factor.
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R290 refrigerant emission factor by year
| Year | Scope 1 (kg CO2e per kg) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0.060000 | 0.0% |
| 2025 | 0.060000 | 0.0% |
| 2024 | 0.060000 | 0.0% |
| 2023 | 0.060000 | -98.0% |
| 2022 | 3.0000 | -9.1% |
| 2021 | 3.3000 | 0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.3000 | 0.0% |
| 2019 | 3.3000 | – |
Total kg CO2e for the seven greenhouse gases, from the official DESNZ files for each year. 2026 factor ID: 3_204_2472_3_1. Where a factor jumps sharply between two years, it is usually because DESNZ changed its method or data source, not because the activity itself changed.
Worked example
Take 1 kg of R290 (propane) topped up in commercial display fridges. 1 kg × 0.060000 kg CO2e = 0.00 tonnes CO2e, reported as Scope 1.
How to report it
R290 is propane used as a refrigerant in many new display fridges, freezers and heat pumps. Its warming effect is tiny compared with HFCs such as R404A, which is why it is a popular replacement.
The government lists it with the non-Kyoto gases. It is still worth recording, so your records show the switch.
Where the data comes from
You'll usually find it in your engineer's service records, which must show refrigerant added. Keep the source documents: anyone checking your Carbon Reduction Plan or SECR report may ask how each figure was worked out.
Read more about how the factors change each year in our guide to the 2026 conversion factors, or see how we apply them in our methodology.
Related emission factors
- R404A refrigerant: 3,943.0 kg CO2e per kg
- R32 refrigerant: 677.00 kg CO2e per kg
- R134a refrigerant: 1,300.0 kg CO2e per kg
- All UK emission factors