Star Refrigeration upgraded the frozen storage system at the DHL Wetherspoon distribution centre in Daventry using a low-charge ammonia Azanefreezer 2.0. The project reduced annual electricity use by over 600,000kWh and cut carbon emissions by 123 tonnes. The upgrade replaced an aging 2004 refrigeration plant, eliminating the need for water treatment and reducing the ammonia charge to 220kg. This shift improves operational safety while lowering annual running costs by nearly 200,000 pounds.
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Good to see a real world example of low charge ammonia. The real win here is avoiding that 400k maintenance spend on the 2004 plant. Most facilities just patch old gear until it dies, but the payback on efficiency looks solid here.
600k kWh saved is a decent drop for one site. I wonder if they have a peak demand strategy for these units or if the energy savings are mostly off peak. It would be interesting to see the actual load profile change.
This is a textbook case of industrial decarbonization. It is not about a new policy, but about the financial case for replacing old assets. When the cost of maintenance exceeds the cost of a green upgrade, the transition happens quickly.
