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EuroShop panel explores eco-friendly food cooling |
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At the global retail trade fair EuroShop, politicians, retailers and suppliers have discussed sustainable supermarket refrigeration in Germany, mentioning CO2 systems as one of the best solutions to face future challenges.
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2008-02-27
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CO2 (R744) refrigeration systems are safe, reliable and due to their environmental performance are one of the preferred options of both German policy makers and the food retail industry to face upcoming legal, technical, and environmental challenges. This was agreed by most experts exchanging their views at the panel discussion “Eco-friendly Cooling of Food”. The session, attracting around 100 representatives from industry, was organized by the VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau) to accompany the global retail trade fair EuroShop currently running in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The panel, held on 26 February, comprised of representatives from leading food retail groups and suppliers, including REWE, Metro, EPTA and Carrier. A consultancy advising the EU Commission on energy efficiency standards for refrigeration equipment, and the German Federal Environment Agency rounded up the expert group. The panelists came to the following conclusions:
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Policy
Germany: Dr. Wolfgang Plehn, German Federal Environment Agency (UBA), made clear that the UBA would support CO2 Technology in supermarket refrigeration, funding a large number of projects that would help fast-track the use of R744 in Germany. Based on the dire estimation that around 50% of the 7 million tons of emissions from the German food retail sector every year are due to leaking refrigerants, Plehn insisted that energy efficiency is not enough to address the environmental performance of refrigeration systems but that the choice of refrigerant, here CO2, will be crucial. The UBA will now start an open dialogue with industry to focus on CO2 as a problem and a solution at the same time.
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EU: BIOIS, a consultancy entrusted by the European Commission with studies to set energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigeration equipment, confirmed that these systems are discussed by several directorates inside the Commission, including Enterprise, Energy, Environment, and Tax, with the latter currently looking at possible incentives for sustainable solutions. BIOIS, however, also admitted that CO2 systems are not yet the main focus of the “Energy-using Products Directive” (EuP) which focuses on the improvement of current installations.
Retailers
REWE: Mr Fischer from Europe’s 3rd largest food retail group stressed that an early decision on the next-generation coolant is needed to ensure that investments in new systems and cooling cabinets can be made in the next 5 years. Fischer also stressed the need for more transparency at the European political level, urging legislators to provide a clear framework for investment security. The company has already invested in CO2 Technology, and will now focus on IT solutions, like intelligent door systems, that help ensure the best possible operation of refrigeration systems.
Metro: An informal platform to exchange views with politicians is needed even more than direct incentives, one of the world’s leading retail group stated, insisting also on the fact that energy efficiency is the industry’s top priority rather than the choice of refrigerant. Given that the implementation of the Gases Regulation will incur additional costs for users of HFC-based systems, CO2 will be an even more cost-efficient solution for the industry in the future.
Suppliers
EPTA: The leading supplier confirmed that it is already on the “CO2 track”, as R744 is known to be a reliable solution without any surprises. Having proved that CO2 Technology is technically feasible, the industry now needs startup incentives and a better servicing infrastructure to ensure a wide market penetration of R744.
Carrier: As several panelists before, Christoph Brouwers from Carrier insisted on a holistic approach that would take into account energy efficiency as well as the refrigerant choice. Regarding R744, Carrier confirmed that the company already offers commercial solutions, but also regretted the lack of available components for transcritical systems, and missing support from policy makers. Brouwers also insisted on the need for a standardized labeling scheme to make energy consumption for all systems more transparent.
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