The Government’s clean air strategy means that the temperature-controlled refrigeration industry faces one of its biggest challenges—how to cut its environmental impact in a practical, cost-effective way. Those market players who are slow to adapt may rue their tardiness if, but more likely when, for example, the red diesel subsidy is removed, and most refrigerated vehicles run on it today. An indication of such trucks’ pollution puissance is the fact that running on red diesel emits six times the nitrogen oxide and 29 times the particulate matter as a Euro VI engine on a truck.
Fortunately for the refrigerated hauliers, deliverance is at hand through new technology. Dearman, for example, has invented a transport refrigeration unit that runs on liquid nitrogen rather than diesel which it claims has no damaging emissions. It is expected to become commercially available within the next few months. Schmitz Cargobull is also working on emission reductions by developing an electric refrigeration unit which runs on a battery independently of the main engine.
Vehicles aside, the other big challenge for cold chains is to improve warehouse performance, an area where often 25% of running costs are energy related. Moving to a new warehouse may help but it may not always make business sense to replace older buildings within one’s network. A review of one’s existing premises, which looks at loading bays, door seals, etc, and an analysis of where energy is escaping, could result in energy cuts of 20-40%.
Doors are a critical defence against cold store energy losses so Klimate’s new K2 high speed freezer door, featured elsewhere, makes a timely debut. Requiring only an energy-efficient 20-amp supply, the K2 can be installed on the chilled, ambient or freezer side of the opening. It features an adjustable air defrost system to ensure it remains ice and condensation free continuously, switching off when the door is opened, saving energy of up 50%. Klimate says the initial payback could be less than two years.
Trying to maximise efficiency of existing cold stores, however, can be very complex so it might be helpful to use an informatics tool like Ethos, developed by Star Technical Solutions, who claim it can reduce energy bills by up to 30%. It collects information from power meters, sensors and compressors before analysing what needs to be done to improve efficiency. Its results would show where performance can be optimised and even inform the user where capex is needed and what the likely ROI would be. It is important to watch those temperatures because being just 2-3% either side of the ideal temperature could raise energy usage by 5-10%. One Wakefield cold store using Ethos achieved electricity savings of £100,000 per year by changing the way equipment was being used and replacing some inefficient parts.
The long-term challenges facing the industry all relate to climate change, says Shane Brennan, chief executive of the Cold Chain Federation. If the Government makes good at meeting its environmental targets this could very likely mean another step change in the regulatory and taxation pressure imposed on the industry. To make the food and drinks supply chains more resilient, reliable and profitable, new investment is critical because much of the supply chain infrastructure is no longer fit for purpose, warns Mr Brennan.
Bill Redmond
Features Editor
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