For businesses operating cold storage facilities, seeking immediate relief from energy cost pressures and securing long-term savings through energy efficiency have never been so important.

Shane Brennan
Chief Executive, Cold Chain Federation

When energy costs rose across Europe last autumn, the UK was badly hit due to a mix of immediate and longer-term term factors. UK energy costs remain extremely high with little sign of light at the end of the tunnel. Some cold storage businesses have seen huge increases in the cost of their electricity, in some cases as much as 200%. The Cold Chain Federation is urging Government to ensure the industry is included in any support packages, should they be forthcoming, but we have to assume that this is unlikely, so we are advising operators of the actions they may be able to take to help cushion the blow.

The first consideration should be to check energy contracts and carefully consider options for renewals. The Cold Chain Federation can connect our members with cold storage energy specialists to discuss the options.

Operators can also implement ‘housekeeping’ changes that could immediately cut energy usage, such as ensuring refrigeration systems are running optimally, especially defrost cycles, and ensuring building insulation is well maintained, especially around door seals and loading bays.

The changes that will give a cold store the biggest bang for their buck can be identified by assessing the facility’s energy performance. Data collected as part of the cold storage Climate Change Agreement is a good start to understanding a site’s energy usage and additional sub metering can provide a more detailed view of specific areas such as refrigeration systems.

A one-off optimisation inspection can identify electrical usage savings but can be limited without comprehensive data. Smart monitoring systems allow operating conditions to be continuously monitored, identifying energy inefficiencies as they occur, and can reduce electrical costs by more than 15% per year.

As well as producing the Cold Chain Federation’s practical guide Energy Efficiency in Cold Stores, we have also worked with our partners at SafetyCulture to design an iAuditor familiarisation checklist of the key recommendations in the guide. Find out more about our energy efficiency guide and the iAuditor checklist at www.coldchainfederation.org.uk/energy

But this is not a short-term problem requiring only short-term solutions. Net zero regulation and ongoing volatility in the energy market will make electricity consumption increasingly expensive over the coming decades. Cold stores of the future will undoubtedly operate as part of a net zero cold chain.

Many cold storage businesses are already making progress towards a net zero future, including those signed up to the cold storage Climate Change Agreement administered by the Cold Chain Federation, which saves the industry £10m a year in Climate Change Levy savings.

High impact opportunities to incorporate long-term energy efficiency measures – such as automation or on-site renewables like solar power, wind power or Combined Heat and Power systems – can put businesses in prime position to reap the commercial benefits of a net zero approach as well as minimising the impacts of rising energy costs over the years and decades to come

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