World News

Industry news and insights from Europe and around the World

UK News

Latest news and developments in the United Kingdom

Products

Keep up-to-date with the latest new products and technology

Features

General articles, applications and industry analysis

6,000 European CO2 systems in 2016

23296917_sBELGIUM: European supermarkets will install 6,000 transcritical CO2 refrigeration systems next year, according to natural refrigerants group Shecco.

Figures contained in the group’s latest Accelerate Europe magazine illustrate the speed and extent to which supermarkets have already adopted CO2 refrigeration systems around the world. And while Europe continues to lead in the number of transcritical CO2 installations, the USA is making key technological advancements in the deployment of CO2 systems in high ambient areas.

Europe remains the clear leader in the technology with over 5,500 supermarkets now using CO2 transcritical systems. Buoyed by pressures on R404A, Shecco is predicting an additional 6,000 CO2 systems per year from 2016 across Europe.

The adoption of CO2 is also beginning to accelerate elsewhere. With only 190 installations in March 2014, Japan’s adoption of CO2 has since exploded to over 1,000 stores using the low GWP refrigerant. This is mainly down to commitments from two leading retailers, AEON and Lawson. AEON, alone, has 3,500 stores which it is to retrofit with CO2.

The US has been slower to adopt CO2 but this is likely to accelerate now that it has its own restrictions on R404A. From just two installations in 2013, the total of transcritical installations in the US grew to 52 this year, but some of these have been highly innovative systems in high ambient areas.

The cool climate in Canada is particularly suited to CO2 transcritical systems where 139 systems are already installed and South Africa is another area making progress with CO2, boasting 52 installations.

Related stories:

Transcritical CO2 set to grow five-fold by 2020 – September 14, 2015
Global sales of transcritical CO2 systems are predicted to grow more than five-fold over the next five years according to a new report. Read more…

Report plots increase in CO2 systems January 14, 2014
BRUSSELS: A new report reveals that CO2 is being used in over 4,500 supermarket refrigeration systems across Europe. Read more…

Report compares CO2 refrigeration costs – March 18, 2015
USA: Commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturer Hillphoenix has produced a report looking at the real-life costs of CO2 refrigeration systems. Read more…

US could follow Europe with CO2 – September 10, 2014
USA: The US Department of Energy’s largest r&d laboratory is predicting that American supermarkets could follow Europe by switching to CO2 refrigeration. Read more…

Latest News

16th January 2026

Lewington named Tefcold UK MD

UK: Commercial refrigeration company Tefcold UK has appointed Tom Lewington as managing director in succession to Torben Christensen, who remains as group chairman.
16th January 2026

Ammonia release from “empty” compressor causes injury

USA: A serious injury to an employee of a meat processor was caused by an ammonia release from an isolated compressor, which was thought to be empty.
16th January 2026

Advansor upgrades all-in-one CO2 rack

DENMARK: Advansor has announced an upgraded version of its CuBig II combined cooling, freezing, air conditioning and heating unit with 50% more capacity, improved freezing performance, and wider operating range.
15th January 2026

Daikin opens Manchester training facility

UK: Daikin UK has officially opened its new Manchester Training Academy to offer both Daikin product courses and industry-accredited heat pump training.
15th January 2026

Allcool latest to join Nordic Climate Group

UK: The Swedish contractor group, Nordic Climate, has further expanded its UK organisation with the acquisition of Allcool (NW).
15th January 2026

Company agrees $1.1m penalty for fatal ammonia release

USA: A Massachusetts-based food processing company will pay a $1.1m civil penalty following a fatal ammonia refrigerant release in 2022.