Danfoss, a global manufacturer of high-efficiency controls, compressors, and drives, perceives no change in demand for CO2 refrigeration in the U.S. retail sector despite uncertainly surrounding U.S. policy on HFC phase-down regulation.
“Our sales team continues to receive inquiries for CO2,” said James Knudsen, segment manager – food retail at Danfoss, at the AHR Expo in January. “The interest in this technology seems to be continuing to grow as a portion of capital spending by supermarkets”
Though the U.S. Senate has not yet ratified the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol that calls for a global phase-down of HFCs, retailers are still going forward with plans to test or introduce this technology.
“Our sales team continues to receive inquiries for CO2.”
James Knudsen, Danfoss
“Retailers are still testing and evaluating,” Knudsen noted. “Of course, there are some retailers that have adapted to CO2 like ALDI.”
Danfoss’s multi ejector for transcritical CO2, in trial release globally, is being tested by U.S. OEMs, with a few ejectors “headed for the field,” said Knudsen. One is already used in a Hillphoenix transcritical CO2 booster system installed at a Sprouts Farmers Market in Woodstock, Ga., according to Hillphoenix.
Knudsen sees the individual states, particularly California, continuing to push for control of refrigerants with high GWP. This is providing impetus to continue on the path toward natural refrigerants in food retail sustainability plans.
“California is leading the way, and, along with a possible consortium of 14 states, the U.S. Climate Alliance, is providing leadership for climate policy,” said Knudsen. “This gives retailers the need to consider naturals in their longer-term plans for refrigerants, regardless of national policy. Clearly on a global scale, CO2 is being either adopted or at least tested in every region as the food retail large-system solution.”
