With support from German government-based GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit), European-based Carrier Commercial Refrigeration has agreed to establish the “first-ever” East African transcritical CO2 (R744) supermarket training center.
The collaboration between the global refrigeration company and the Green Cooling Initiative (GCI) ‒ operated by GIZ ‒ was formalized in an October 21 signing ceremony with GIZ at the World Cold Chain Symposium, held in Nairobi, Kenya.
As a service provider of the German government, GIZ supports cooperation, sustainable development and education in more than 100 countries. The International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection funds GCI.
Carrier Commercial Refrigeration supplies high-efficiency refrigeration systems and services in the cold storage and food retail industries, with more than 20,000 CO2 systems in operation.
As part of the agreement, in addition to the center, the company will provide training in Kenya, Germany and online for African trainers and technicians. The CO2 transcritical regional supermarket training center, to be built in Nairobi “will serve as a hub for innovation, education and industry advancement in cold chain solutions,” Carrier said in a press release.
“Setting up the first regional CO2 transcritical supermarket training center in Kenya and providing training in cooperation with local Kenyan partners and Carrier is an important cornerstone toward the promotion of green cooling in Africa,” said Philipp Denzinger, Project Manager of GIZ Proklima. “[It] prepares for the Kigali and Paris Agreements,” he added, with GIZ Proklima focused on global green cooling under the Montreal Protocol and Paris Agreement.
“At Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, we are pleased to partner with GIZ to further decarbonize around the globe,” said Marcus Eisenhuth, Vice President and General Manager at Carrier Commercial Refrigeration. “This center will provide comprehensive training using state-of-the-art CO2 technology, equipping professionals with the critical skills to optimize their cold chain operations.”
“This innovative initiative further underscores Carrier’s ongoing commitment to advance efficient and sustainable cooling solutions in emerging markets,” Carrier said, focusing on expanding the cold chain to help reduce hunger, food insecurities and carbon emissions.
Founded in 1902 by Willis Carrier, Carrier Commercial Refrigeration is a part of Carrier Global Corporation, a global leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions. “Since 1994, we have led the industry in the phase-out of ozone-depleting refrigerants while introducing many of the world’s most energy-efficient heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems,” the company says on its website.
In further support of its 2030 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals, the company signed an agreement with Telangana State Trade Promotion Corporation in August to advance cold chain development and training in India. In 2022, it agreed to develop a transport training center in Accra, Ghana, and a cold chain center in Kigali, Rwanda.
“This center will provide comprehensive training using state-of-the-art CO2 technology, equipping professionals with the critical skills to optimize their cold chain operations.”
Marcus Eisenhuth, Vice President and General Manager at Carrier Commercial Refrigeration
