Danfoss, Bethpage, N.Y., conducted an online survey to gauge industry acceptance of CO₂ refrigeration systems in North America.  

Intended to serve as an industry indicator, the survey collected input from commercial and industrial refrigeration OEMs, consultants, contractors and end users. 

According to the survey, the commercial refrigeration industry continues to see CO₂ as a viable mainstream technology for refrigeration (82% of OEMs; 91% of consultants and end users), and about half of OEMs responding see CO₂ refrigeration as being at least 16% of their business within the next five years. In a similar study conducted in 2012, less than 20% of OEMs saw CO₂ comprising at least 16% of their business.

The majority of today’s commercial refrigeration consultants and end users are engaged in CO₂ projects, citing pending legislation/regulations and corporate sustainability goals as key drivers in the decision to use CO₂. However, they also identified the high initial system cost as a primary barrier to deployment.

“The results of this survey validate the ongoing growth we are seeing in CO₂ projects across North America,” says Peter Dee, sales and services director – food retail. “Globally, Danfoss has been involved in more than 10,000 CO₂ refrigeration projects, and we are using this experience to continue investing in technologies like our new CTM multi-ejectors that help to minimize the challenges and application barriers to CO₂. We have also recently launched our CO₂ mobile training unit to address the critical need for training.”

The survey also identified similar acceptance in the industrial refrigeration market. Fifty-seven percent of responding OEMs and contractors and 43% of consultants and end users indicated they have already been involved in a CO₂ refrigeration project or have plans to be. However, OEMs and contractors do not see CO₂ becoming a significant part of their business in the near future.

OEMs and contractors identified the removal of ammonia, in terms of improved safety and reduced ammonia charge, as key drivers in using CO₂. Consultants and end users agreed, but also cited pending legislation/regulation as important factors. In contrast to the commercial refrigeration industry, industrial refrigeration respondents said the primary barrier to further CO₂ use is the result of end user and contractor familiarity and training.

This industry indicator was conducted as a follow up to a similar survey conducted by Danfoss in 2012 to gauge the market acceptance of CO₂ refrigeration. The survey was distributed via email to approximately 1,100 people that do business in commercial or industrial refrigeration applications.