Birds Eye view of solar-powered trailer

UK: Birds Eye is to employ two solar-powered Sunswap refrigerated trailers for transporting produce from its production facility in Lowestoft to its distribution hub at Wisbech.

Part of its partnership with European shipping and logistics firm DFDS, the trailers will feature roof-mounted solar panels that work alongside Sunswap’s advanced battery system to power the refrigeration units.

By adopting Sunswap’s electric transport refrigeration unit, Birds Eye is expected to eliminate around 24 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually from its supply chain.

“This collaboration with an industry food leader like Birds Eye confirms that our British-engineered and manufactured system not only matches the performance and reliability needed for temperature-critical food transport but goes further by reducing direct emissions and helping cut operating costs,” commented Sunswap CEO Michael Lowe.

Both Birds Eye and Sunswap currently participate in the Move to -15°C coalition, which aims to reduce energy consumption in frozen food transport and storage through optimised temperature management.