Recap: Virtual Technology Roadshow

Before we set off on our virtual journey to Latin America and the Carribean, we have started with a few contributions from Germany. In this first event, participants got to know a mix of different cooling technologies and experiences: 

• Solar powered cold stores and options for energy storage (Paul Kohlenbach, Beuth University Berlin),
• The planning and installation process of CO2 and propane-based air conditioning in an office building (Uwe Schäfer, GIZ Building Services Bonn),
• A special software for the convertion of commercial refrigeration systems to propane (Vilim Mergl, CoolTool).

In the second online event of our virtual Technology Roadshow we have looked at three companies operating with and producing plants with natural refrigerants from Spain and Costa Rica:

• Intarcon: Industrial refrigeration (Spain) 
  Intarcon is a global supplier for packaged refrigeration units and solutions for the catering and food distribution sectors and industry. The company distributes systems that operate with natural refrigerants such as propane, CO2 and ammonia.
• Roche: Pharmaceutical distribution center (Costa Rica)
  Roche sends biotechnological medicines from its distribution center to the entire Central American and Caribbean region. Two cold rooms with the natural refrigerant R290 store medicines for cancer treatment.  A freezing room is used to store refrigeration elements to maintain the cold chain during transportation. 
• RSF: Industrial refrigeration (Costa Rica) 
  Systems of RSF, equipped with ammonia, are highly energy efficient and climate-friendly. Additionally, the refrigeration, air conditioning and process water systems are equipped with monitoring devices to avoid waste.

In this third online event of our virtual Technology Roadshow we have travelled to Mexico and Costa Rica and learned more about the use of natural refrigerants in industrial refrigeration and air conditioning: 

• Mabe: Industrial conversion / Domestic refrigeration (Mexico)
  Mabe's goal is to eliminate the conventional refrigerant R134a and replace it with with the natural refrigerant R600a.  A representative from Mabe explained the challenges and solutions of a successful conversion to isobutane (R600a).
• Ministry of Transport of Costa Rica (MOPT): Air conditioning (Mexico)
  The MOPT replaced its old ACs by inverter ACs based on R290 refrigerant. A representative of the ministry explained the advantages of these appliances and changes to the previous models. 

In the last webinar we have learned more about R290 split ACs in Grenada. Suppliers, users and policy Makers on the islands expressed their views on this climate- and ozone-friendly alternative to conventional ACs:

• Grenz Concept
  The company installed the first R290 unit in May 2019 in Grenada. Since then, customers have been very interested in the ACs, especially due to their high energy efficiency and the aspect that they are environmentally friendly.
• Modern Electrical Solutions
  Founded in 2012, the company quickly became a pioneer for solar energy in Grenada. To keep Grenada naturally cool, Modern Electrical Solutions also decided to install R290 units to replace climate damaging refrigerants. 
• National Ozone Unit Grenada
  Leslie Smith, Head of Grenada's NOU, gave an overview of the advantages of Grenada's  path to Green Cooling and how the NOU is assisting companies like Grenz Concept and Modern Electrial Solutions in training technicians in the safe use of hydrocarbons. 

We thank all the companies and organisations involved for the valuable insights and their commitment to natural refrigerants. This gave a total of more than 220 participants from all over the world the opportunity to discover ozone- and climate-friendly RAC systems in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.