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The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has amended the F-gas Reduction Incentive Program (FRIP) Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Refrigeration Funding Guidelines to expand applicant eligibility. Through FRIP, CARB is investing $38.5 million for climate-friendly refrigerant technologies in California commercial and industrial refrigeration facilities.
Guidelines Addendum: The C&I Refrigeration Addendum 03 outlines updated eligibility criteria for FRIP funding. Changes from all 3 existing addendums are included in the amended FRIP C&I Refrigeration Funding Guidelines. Revisions were made based on stakeholder feedback. Addendum 03 changes include:
- Reduced minimum GWP for Industrial Process Refrigeration, Cold Storage and Other Refrigeration to 1,300.
- Clarification of RMP registration requirement for application eligibility.
- Clarification on when Technical Grantees can order equipment to remain eligible for receiving grant funds.
Note: Added language relative to the original Funding Guidelines appears in bold and underline, while deleted language appears in strikethrough and within square brackets.
How to Apply for Funding: Applicants must use the FRIP web portal to apply for funding. Funding will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. The second application window opened on March 3, 2025, and is currently accepting applications. This is the last application window and is scheduled to close on August 29, 2025.
Application Support: CARB administers FRIP in partnership with the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC). NASRC is available to provide application assistance, including support understanding eligible technologies, scoping projects, obtaining project bids, and submitting FRIP applications. Contact info@fripfunding.com or 833-852-FRIP (833-852-3747) for more information and for application assistance.
C&I Refrigeration Awards: The list of awarded projects is now available on the program website and includes information on awards, climate impact, and project highlights.
Background
The legislature appropriated $65 million to CARB from Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 budgets to increase the adoption of climate-friendly refrigerant technologies through FRIP. CARB has allocated $38.5 million to the current Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Refrigeration solicitation and continues to receive input on how to allocate the remainder of the funds.
Established by Senate Bill 1013 and as directed by the legislature, FRIP incentivizes the installation of climate-friendly refrigerant technologies with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. High-GWP hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants are potent climate pollutants, hundreds to thousands of times stronger in their adverse impact on the climate compared to carbon dioxide, the most common GHG. Scientists have determined that reducing climate pollutants such as HFCs is among the most effective climate mitigation strategies. Due to their potent climate impact, Senate Bill 1383 mandates the reduction of HFCs or fluorinated gases by 40% below 2013 levels by 2030.
The goal of FRIP is to reduce fluorinated gas emissions by incentivizing the adoption of climate-friendly technologies, particularly ultra-low-GWP technologies, defined as having a GWP less than ten, as directed by the legislature. Incentives are expected to help these technologies achieve economies of scale, which will lead to wider market adoption and, therefore, greater GHG reductions and will support California in achieving the Senate Bill 1383 legislative mandate.
In 2023, CARB selected NASRC to administer FRIP through a competitive solicitation. NASRC and their partners will conduct outreach and provide technical expertise to potential applicants and to grantees selected to receive incentive funding for the adoption of climate-friendly refrigeration technologies.
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