Scope and history

The European F Gas Regulation encourages wider adoption of alternatives to high GWP HFC refrigerants. Industry groups are joining together to help provide information on the safe use of alternatives such as ammonia, hydrocarbon, carbon dioxide and low flammables though the REAL Alternatives learning programme.

The resources developed as part of the project offer an innovative blended learning opportunity – a mix of e-learning modules, face-to-face training materials, practical exercises, assessments and an e-library of learning resources from the industry – the programme has brought together industry knowledge and expertise from across Europe about alternative refrigerants.

REAL Alternatives has built on the successful REAL Skills Europe & REAL Zero containment approaches. (Refrigerants, Emissions And Leakage – Zero). It was prepared by a consortium of Partners from across Europe, with initial co-funding by the EU, including training and professional institutes as well as employer representative bodies.

Industry stakeholders drawn from employers, manufacturers, trade associations and professional institutes have contributed with learning material, advised on content, helped to pilot and to promote the programme as it developed.

The free multi-lingual learning materials are available for individual development or use as classroom training materials. They include e-learning content, electronic tools, a comprehensive library gathered from existing industry resources.

REAL Alternatives project consortium

Project Partners

The REAL Alternatives project is led by six partners who include training and professional institutes as well as employer representative bodies. All partners in the REAL Alternatives consortium contribute to each aspect of the programme and to its management:

Limburg Catholic University College (UCLL)

Belgium

Associazione Tecnici del Freddo (ATF)

Italy

Informationszentrum für Kälte-, Klima- und Energietechnik gGmbH (IKKE)

Germany

Association of European Refrigeration Air Conditioning and Heat Pump Contractors (AREA)

International Institute of Refrigeration

PROZON recycling programme

Poland

Institute of Refrigeration

UK

London South Bank University

UK

National Lead Partners

The project welcomes additional national leads who would like to promote the learning resources in their country, translate materials into an additional language and work with training providers to deliver assessment and certification courses based on REAL Alternatives. Contact us here to find out more.

Stakeholders and supporters

A wide variety of stakeholders representing all partner countries as well as EU and International agencies have contributed to this project. Stakeholders have shared resources, commenting and piloting draft materials, and disseminating information about the programme. Please contact us if you wish to become a REAL Alternatives stakeholder.