Guest Bio
Peter Dee is the Sales Director of Food Retail at Danfoss.
Episode Summary
Peter Dee, sales director of food retail at Danfoss, joins John Sheff, Danfoss’ former director of public and industry affairs, to discuss the adoption of CO2 and other trends in food retail.
Main Points
- As we head into the phasedown of HFCs, there are a lot of changes taking place in the food retail industry.
- Retailers are moving toward natural refrigerants – CO2, propane, or a blend of refrigerants, depending on state and local requirements – to reduce GWP. There has been a significant ramp-up over the past two years.
- Many food retailers are planning to use CO2 applications in new stores they are building. With the uncertainty of future regulations, adopting CO2 is a way to future-proof their stores. It also demonstrates their commitment to protecting the environment and brings visibility to their sustainability initiatives.
- Another trend in the industry is adopting the use of controllers, which can monitor refrigeration systems and provide continuous data and predictive maintenance. Engineers will know the problem and repair needs before they arrive on site.
- Contractors and suppliers have realized these trends and are working with food retailers to meet their needs.
- Training is key – contractors need to provide training to their employees who are installing and maintaining these new technologies and applications. Danfoss and OEMs are providing training options to contractors.
- Outside of food retail, light industry is also adopting CO2. This has been happening in Europe but we are now seeing it in North America. CO2 is here to stay. The infrastructure is now in place for broad adoption.
- Cost has been a barrier in the past but costs are coming down. While there is an up front cost for CO2 and accompanying technology, the food retail industry is realizing the long-term benefits.
- End users are looking for retrofittable solutions for CO2. This is particularly true in CA, where regulations are impacting existing stores.
- Danfoss is working with end users on reducing GWP and implementing solutions, depending on the store’s size and needs.
- Collaboration is very important. Contractors need to work closely with customers and train their employees. Danfoss offers training and tech support to contractors. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
Links
Learn more about the AIM Act and HFC phasedown
Learn more about CO2 and accompanying technologies for food retail
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Listen on YouTube
For more information and additional episodes of the EnVisioneering Exchange podcast, visit https://www.danfoss.com/en-us/about-danfoss/insights-for-tomorrow/envisioneering-exchange/