08 Eia Refrigerant Use In Commercial Refrigeration In Uk Fionnuala Walravens

Refrigerant use in commercial

refrigeration in the UK

Fionnuala Walravens

Environmental Investigation Agency

26/04/10

Outline

• About EIA

• About the Chilling Facts campaign

• Results: In-store, transport and distribution centres

• Challenges

• UK government engagement

• Next steps and conclusions

Profile

• Established 1984• Offices in London and Washington DC• Combating environmental crime and abuse• Campaigns: Species in Peril, Forests for the World,

Global Environment• Investigating illegal trade in ODS since 1997

Global Environment Campaign focus• CFC illegal trade within developing countries• HCFC illegal trade threat in Europe and US• Climate protection through HFC global phase out• Illegal trade in electronic waste, from UK to developing countries

Chilling Facts: The supermarket refrigeration scandal

• Launched in Jan 2009 in response to voluntary HFC phase out pledge made by supermarkets in 2007

• Annual survey of supermarket refrigeration policies and practices. Ongoing monitoring and opportunity to improve

• Harnessing public and media attention to influence corporate social responsibility (CSR)

• Wide media spread coverage: BBC radio, Sky News, Guardian, online• Taking action: www.chillingfacts.org.uk

Why Supermarkets?RAC market subsector excluding Mobile Air Conditioning

Supermarket

Other retail

Hospitality

Commercial offices

Government buildings

Health

Other buildings

Indusrty

Domestic

Transport

• 2005: Supermarkets are biggest source of HFC emissions in UK 2 million tonnes CO2-eq

(LACORS: Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services)

Survey coverage

• Direct and indirect emissions• Leakage rates• Use of natural refrigerants: in store, behind

the scenes, transport refrigeration,• Training• Energy efficiency • Future plans• Raising awareness

Results

2009• 14 stores running on climate-friendly refrigeration• Morrisons and Marks and Spencer commit to using climate friendly alternatives

2010• 46 running on climate-friendly refrigeration• Sainsbury’s (UK’s 3rd largest supermarket) and Waitrose commit to going HFC-free

in all new stores and total HFC phase out by 2030 and 2020 respectively• Tesco, CO2 based stores in Hungary, Thailand and Korea

Future plans• Tesco: 150 HFC-free stores by 2012, still to be confirmed. CO2 trials planned in

Malaysia, Turkey and USA• Sainsbury’s: committed to 135 HFC-free stores by 2014• Marks and Spencer: total HFC phase out by 2030

=> HFC-free refrigeration is both technically and commercially viable

In store refrigeration:secondary systems

CO2 based: CO2 as a heat transfer fluid and either hydrocarbons (HCs) or HFCs as the primary

refrigerant.• Marks and Spencer intention to use HC/CO2 systems long term. • Morrisons’ current policy is to continue with HFC/ CO2 systems (reduced HFC

charge), trialling transcritical CO2 and HC/CO2 systems.

Water cooled integral system: Water as a heat transfer fluid HC as the primary refrigerant • Waitrose has developed this. Simple system design and ease of maintenance

Energy efficiency• Waitrose: 20% reduction in connected electrical load• Marks and Spencer: most recent CO2 systems equivalent energy efficiency to HFC

systems.

comparable or improved energy efficiency compared to HFC systems.

In store refrigeration

Transcritical CO2 systems

• Tesco and Sainsbury's favour this technology• Tesco claims it has a TEWI reduction of 70% over its R-404A system and significant cost reductions over previous HFC-free systems

‘Greenfreeze’

Many smaller discount stores are using hydrocarbon based ‘plug and play’ systems. • Lidl: 1/3 of all freezers are HFC-free, in phase-out process. Developing HFC-free chilled refrigerators• Midland’s co-operative: all new integrals will be HFC-free

Transport refrigeration

• R404a GWP 3750……..Alternatives???Eutectic plates• Frozen to -24C at distribution centres allowing frozen food delivery

without the need for cooling systems in the trailer.• Reduced the number of vehicles on the road • Significant energy savings.• Lidl invested £7.5 million in this technologyHydrocarbons• Early stages of developmentNitrogen• Some small scale trialsCryogenic CO2 based technology• Spar Netherland: 2015 it plans to convert all refrigerated trailers • Reduce indirect emissions

Distribution centres

• Ammonia dominant choice

• 3 retailers using 100% ammonia

• 4 others finishing transition from HCFC to ammonia

• 3 retailers using HFCs

• Development of NH3 and CO2 based technology

Issues raised by supermarkets

Issue: Skills shortage-lack of trained engineers Solution: Training courses with support from government

and supermarkets. Many UK supermarkets now carrying out training

Issue: Need for a government intervention, creation of level playing field to incentivise alternatives/penalise HFCs

Solution: HFC phase-out, using HFC taxation as interim and source of funds to assist training and R&D

Issue: A need for improved supply of components Solution: Opportunities for green business

Government engagement

• Supermarkets calling for legislation, level playing field• EIA calling for HFC phase-out in supermarket sector

Political engagement• MP Clive Efford• Private Members bill, cross party support• Ministerial meeting

UK government response• A matter of priority for EC F-gas review

Chilling Facts campaign: Where Next?

• Expanding into Europe

• Asda, Tesco and Carrefour: world’s top three largest food retailers. Potential to create a global technology change

Key trends in commercial refrigeration

• No clear dominant technology

• Natural refrigerant alternatives available across sector

• CO2 more likely in larger format stores

• HCs useful in smaller stores

• Rapid development, shifting market

• Transport refrigeration needs to be addressed

EIA conclusions

• HFC-free technology is now technically AND commercially viable

• Leap frogging HFCs will offer business competitive advantage in future

• Need for further roll out in warmer climates

• Shift to HFC-free must be accompanied by extra training for engineers