Energy Savings

Thermal energy storage cells - bottom view

What are PCM’s?

Energy Savings /

PCMs, otherwise known as Phase Change Materials are materials or compounds that can change phase from a solid to a liquid depending on the temperature to which the material is subjected. PCMs can absorb and release significant amounts of thermal energy as they change phase, thus making PCMs a promising technology that could be implemented within temperature control and management sectors. When PCMs are subjected to thermal energy they change phase from solid to liquid, during this process they absorb and store heat and then subsequently slowly release it. PCMs will aid Cold Stores by absorbing the heat that is allowed to enter the storeroom and releasing it at a far slower rate. How can PCMs be used within Cold and chilled storage? Typically, PCMs are made use of in environments where temperatures are Sub-zero or below ambient, this form of PCM is made up of water and inorganic salts. When this type of PCM is placed within a cold or chilled storage environment, the PCM solidifies as the warehouse is cooled and blowers/chillers are active. As the PCM melts, it absorbs surrounding heat away from the products in which it is placed allowing warehouse operators to ensure that their products are kept and maintained at a consistent temperature. PCMs could be introduced as a method of regulating the temperature of the stored products as well as assist in reducing the overall energy consumption required to maintain their desired temperature. Barpro Storage SA (PTY) Ltd.’s Innovative solution and application of PCM’s Barpro Storage SA has innovated and designed an example of how PCMs could be incorporated within racking to be made use of within Cold & Chill stores. The image below displays Barpro’s proposed concept design. Within the Concept design, PCM materials are placed within PVC tubing which is then placed within a mesh deck, allowing for the PCMs to take place within each pallet position on the top of each rack, allowing for its distributed efforts to be utilized throughout without taking up valuable pallet position space and allowing PCM’s to be placed throughout a warehouse. PCMs benefits and savings Alongside the benefit which they offer by taking the strain away from a cold store cooling system & maintaining the shelf life of their products, PCM’s further offer the benefit of massive energy savings through their implementation. Some of the energy-saving benefits that can be achieved through PCMs include:

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South Africa should take note of current challenges facing European cold stores

Energy Savings, Uncategorized /

One UK cold store manager told me recently that they had fixed their electricity costs until 2024 and were pretty relaxed about the current uncertainties. That is until they started negotiating a replacement fixed price contract. For starters, the contract term would be shortened from the current three years to just 6 months.  Kilowatt hour rate negotiations started at a levels six times higher than previously. Qualified Truck drivers are difficult to find so existing staff are being retrained and learnerships are provided in an attempt to attract talent.  Pay rates for existing cold store staff have increased by around 10% simply to retain personnel. Some cold storage companies who have already been hit with energy cost increases have passed them on to their customers as a surcharge.  They too are suffering from staff shortages and increased labor costs. As energy and labor are among cold stores’ largest cost centers their impact on the bottom line will be devastating.  While South African stores haven’t seen this magnitude of sudden energy increases, ESKOM prices continue to rise while load shedding means an additional huge unbudgeted cost from running generators, not to mention the effect of diesel cost increases on refrigerated trucking operations. Skilled cold store labor is also difficult to find  but labor rates are driven more by inflationary pressures.  Although South Africa’s power shortages have a different driver, they will continue at least for the medium term. Although diesel prices have fallen recently, the obsession with reducing SA’s carbon footprints will have additional negative outcomes, and coal fired generation is retired. So, what can south African cold stores do to meet the challenge? Allow the reach truck to move through one door and the product on a pallet through another. Don’t forget air curtains and high speed doors. As far as cold store labor is concerned, isn’t it time that our refrigeration industry had its own training school?    

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Emergent Energy – Solar PV Investment

Barpro Storage News, Energy Savings, Featured, News, Tips, Warehousing /

Electricity prices are hammering every industry in Southern Africa, however over the last 2 years, solar has become a very appealing offering. Howard Lipman of Tems Meat in City Deep, fed up with increasing electricity tariffs was a first mover, opting to use Emergent Energy. Contractually bound by a performance guarantee, the ball is now in the solar providers’ court. If the performance doesn’t match the promises presented, Emergent Energy will have to pay. Solar EPC’s like Emergent Energy is backed by numerous financial institutions, having access to various power purchase agreements, instalment sales agreements and “welcome to solar” bonuses. After multiple electricity tariff hikes, financial managers must consider cost saving projects that can reduce bills up to 40% with payback periods of under 3 years. The 12B tax incentive is the “cherry on the top” for hard-pressed energy consumers and is one Government initiative which really encourages businesses to go green. “The penny has dropped! Cold stores will move in the 1st quarter of 2020. Another 10-15% tariff increase will be too damaging.” -Gregory Lovell (Business Development Manager at Emergent Energy) gregl@emergy.co.za Although roof-based solar PV energy cannot supply all the electricity required in the event of a blackout, it will significantly reduce standby generator sizing and diesel consumption.

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