Sec­toral mit­ig­a­tion strategy – Trans­port re­fri­ger­a­tion in South Africa

HEAT regularly applies a sectoral approach when striving to reduce emissions. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories, low-carbon roadmaps and real-life pilot projects can effectively support sector transformation and low-carbon strategies. Aiming at the reduction of emissions from refrigerated transport in South Africa, HEAT supported the GIZ project Mitigating Emissions in the Transport Refrigeration Sector in South Africa in 2013-2017, funded by the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). HEAT identified measures to reduce emissions from refrigerated transport in trucks. The switch to natural refrigerant-based cooling systems and increased efficiency of those systems led to less direct emissions from the refrigerants and less indirect emissions from diesel to operate the equipment. Together with Transfrig, the leading local manufacturer, our experts developed and tested prototypes of climate-friendly refrigeration systems with 30% less energy consumption. Contribution to climate resilience: An improved cold chain leads to better food security and less health risks associated with perishable food. Optimized logistics and more efficient refrigeration systems cause less air pollution than conventional systems. Working with local companies regarding innovative technologies enhances vocational training, job opportunities and supports local operators and technology providers in their efforts to “green” their business. Moreover, the sector strategy introduced Measuring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system procedures that can also be applied in other sectors.