Low Global Warming Potential Refrigeration System Conversion at the Venice Bakery Food Production Facility
This project will replace a conventional high-GWP based refrigeration system with an advanced, high efficiency, low-GWP transcritical CO2 refrigeration system.
Rich Products Corporation
Recipient
Buffalo, NY
Recipient Location
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
COVID related issues created cost increases, supply chain challenges, labor shortages, plant shutdown and other challenges. Despite attempts such as material substitution and project design to mitigate cost increases, the project costs ballooned over $1 million and the recipient's management terminated the project in January 2022. The CEC approved the request and finalized the agreement termination in June 2022.
The Issue
In order to meet California's ambitious climate goals, Senate Bill 1383 mandates a reduction in short lived climate pollutants, including a target to reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions by 40 percent below 2013 levels by 2030. Conventional refrigeration systems use HFC-based refrigerants, such as Freon, which have a very high global warming potential (GWP) of approximately 4000 times carbon dioxide (CO2). There is a need to demonstrate alternatives to conventional HFCs which can significantly reduce the GHG emissions from refrigeration systems.
Project Innovation
The purpose of this project is to install and operate an advanced, high efficiency transcritical carbon dioxide (CO2) refrigeration system at the Recipient's baked products manufacturing facility. The transcritical CO2 refrigeration system will eliminate the need for conventional, high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants resulting in reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, energy consumption, and operating costs. Electricity consumption will be measured before and after the system is installed in order to quantify and validate the GHG emissions reductions.
Project Benefits
This project will result in GHG reductions by using installing a low-GWP refrigeration system which significantly reduces refrigeration system GHG emissions.
Environmental Sustainability
This project is expected to reduce GHG emissions by approximately 7,500 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
Key Project Members
