From www.realalternatives.eu:
The Real Alternatives Train-the-Trainers (TOT) 2026 programme will take place from 16 to 20 November 2026 at Aeres Tech in Ede, the Netherlands. The advanced course is designed for trainers working in the refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pump sectors.
Organised by Real Alternatives in collaboration with Aeres Tech and the Associazione Tecnici del Freddo (ATF), the programme continues the consortium’s commitment to supporting its partners in strengthening the technical and pedagogical skills of trainers responsible for educating Europe’s RACHP technicians on low-GWP refrigerants. As the transition to alternative refrigerants accelerates, the need for highly qualified trainers is becoming increasingly important—not only to provide technical expertise but also to effectively promote safe working practices and ensure compliance with the latest European legislation.
Translated into 20 languages, the course is designed to provide the 27 consortium partners and participating countries with practical tools to achieve two key objectives:
- Support national governments in the development and implementation of mandatory certification schemes for technicians working with HFC/HFO refrigerants and alternative refrigerants, including hydrocarbons, CO₂ and ammonia.
- Ensure harmonised and consistent training and certification across Europe. Since the same systems and technologies are used throughout the sector, they require common levels of competence and qualification for technicians. Through the mutual recognition of certifications, qualified professionals will be able to move and work freely across the European Union.
The five-day programme includes two days dedicated to flammable refrigerants, two days on carbon dioxide (CO₂), and one day on ammonia (NH₃). The training will focus primarily on harmonising teaching methodologies among trainers while promoting a common approach to best practices for the safe handling of alternative refrigerants.
This edition of the TOT is particularly significant as it will host the first joint training event with the SKILLSAFE EU project, the European initiative dedicated to developing the skills required for the safe installation of R290 heat pumps. The joint training represents the next step in the collaboration between the two projects, which also includes the integration of the SKILLSAFE EU training module into the Real Alternatives e-learning platform.
On the morning of 16 November, the Real Alternatives Stakeholder Meeting will also take place, providing an important opportunity for consortium partners to exchange experiences, discuss ongoing activities and explore future collaboration.
Hosting the event in the Netherlands adds further value to this edition. The country is among the first in Europe to have completed the implementation of the new F-Gas certification framework, while Aeres Tech is the first national training centre to be accredited to deliver the new European certification. This makes the 2026 TOT an ideal opportunity to combine technical training, regulatory updates and international knowledge exchange.
Registration is open until 18 September 2026. For further information, please contact info@realalternatives.eu.