At China Refrigeration 2015, R744.com interviewed Zhaohui (Stephen) Zhu, Sales Director for Food Retail in China about the opportunities and challenges CO2 technology represents for commercial refrigeration in China. Since the first CO2 store opened in China in 2011, the market has shown positive progress.
On April 21 a Kroger store in Ohio, U.S. became one of only a handful of stores to receive the GreenChill Partnership Platinum level award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The installed refrigeration system is a Hillphoenix CO2 transcritical solution that is expected to reduce the store’s overall carbon footprint by 40%.
In addition to featuring a number of low-charge ammonia products, the IARW-WFLO Convention & Expo, held in Orlando, Florida on 26 – 19 April, included several exhibitors promoting CO2-only and ammonia/CO2 refrigeration systems. While CO2 is still relatively new for the refrigerated warehouse operators attending the show, it is slowly gaining traction as an alternative to traditional high-charge ammonia systems.
Carrefour has big plans for CO2. The company won’t go so far as to declare an all-CO2 philosophy, yet its expansion into warmer ambient climates, in particular two transcritical pilot stores in Valencia, would suggest that notion is closer to reality than they might think. R744.com sat down with the Director International Support at Carrefour, Jean-Michel Fleury, about the expanding CO2 transcritical market in Europe.
A new flagship market in downtown Boston will keep its seafood fresh with a Howe flake ice machine using CO2 as a natural refrigerant.
SONAE MC’s Amad Hafez spoke to R744.com about their experience with cascade systems in Portugal and the retailer’s feelings about their future use of natural refrigerants. While the company praised the high savings their CO2 subcritical commercial refrigeration systems were able to provide, they are still seeking an alternative to R134a. The performance of its two CO2/NH3 stores has not met expectations. However, SONAE MC is keeping an eye on CO2
With CO2 transcritical retail stores in warmer European climates expected to hit 100 in the next two to five years thanks to technology developments like adiabatic cooling, ejectors and parallel compression, Bulgaria represents a potential growth market for the technology. Although there are still barriers to overcome in the EU Member State positive developments are on the way with leading retailer Kaufland seriously considering CO2-only systems.
Carrier began working with tegut…., a German food retailer, in 2010 with a contract to supply a number of CO2OLtec transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems to the chain. R744.com had the opportunity to talk with Carrier Commercial Refrigeration’s Director Turnkey Operations, Christoph Brouwers about the companies’ experience with transcritical CO2.
Heatcraft’s Bohn CO2 unit cooler line, designed for supermarkets or those involved in commercial refrigeration, helps to minimise environmental impact while maintaining- and improving- efficiency levels. With a broad range of unit coolers to choose from, there will be no one left wanting.
The Food Retailer Panel at ATMOsphere Europe 2015 gathered leading end users, amongst them Metro AG, the Delhaize Group, and Ahold, each of which has opted to invest in natural refrigerants for all new stores. With over 500 CO2 transcritical and hybrid installations between them, these retailers are convinced that CO2 is the best refrigerant solution for new stores and refurbishments.
