American industrial chiller manufacturer PRO Refrigeration has announced the release of the PROGreen50, a new CO2 (R744) chiller designed for dairies, food producers and craft beverage companies, to the North American market.
The PROGreen50 provides both process cooling and hot water via a dual-loop heat recovery system. Other standard features include an adiabatic gas cooler, dual compressors with variable frequency drives and a 400gal (1,514L) glycol reservoir with dual-process pumps. The cooling capacity ranges from 55 to 105kW (15.6 to 29.8TR) with the glycol cooled to between 19.4°F and 35.6°F (−7°C and 2°C), according to PRO Refrigeration. Potable hot water is available at up to 180°F (82.2°C).
Jim VanderGiessen, CEO of PRO Refrigeration, which was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Auburn, Washington, called the PROGreen50 “our boldest step forward in sustainable refrigeration” in a press release.
“One big benefit we have with this new series the baseline to design against and improve upon,” VanderGiessen told NaturalRefrigerants.com. “Our initial target is a 5% efficiency gain compared against the PROGreen 100, and we are also focusing on all season operation that delivers optimized operation in the extreme ambient of both winter and summer. ”
“I hope we can prove the performance and sustainability benefits and open the door for more wineries and breweries to adopt this game-changing solution.”
Nick Gislason, Founder of the Hanabi Lager Company
Like with the PROGreen100, the new chiller was designed in partnership with natural refrigerants refrigeration consulting firm Future Green Now (FGN). FGN’s CEO, Wynand Groenewald, was a keynote speaker at ATMO America 2025, which was held in Atlanta June 11–12 and organized by ATMOsphere, publisher of NaturalRefrigerants.com. Groenewald echoed VanderGiessen’s comments around the focus on efficiency in the design of the PROGreen50.
“The goals have changed, this time more focus is on efficiency and affordability,” Groenewald, said in a press release. “Both teams have learned so much. [It’s a] huge benefit to apply that directly into this new system.”
Other partners on the PROGreen50 include Italian compressor manufacturer Dorin and the Seattle-based refrigeration wholesaler Thermal Supply Inc., which will provide access to training facilities and discounts on tools to service technicians. The PROGreen50 will be equipped with three different compressors ranging from 15 to 25hp, with the company currently making its final equipment selection, according to PRO Refrigeration.
First mover
PRO Refrigeration already has its first customer for the PROGreen50, the Hanabi Lager Company. The Napa Valley, California, craft brewing company was founded by Nick Gislason, who said he sees “huge potential for CO2-based refrigeration in industries that haven’t considered it seriously.”
“I hope we can prove the performance and sustainability benefits and open the door for more wineries and breweries to adopt this game-changing solution,” said Gislason in a press release.
PRO Refrigeration said it has installed PROGreen100 CO2 chillers at seven California dairies and a craft distillery in Alaska, with the first unit installed at a California dairy in 2021. PRO Refrigeration said the first PROGreen50 units will ship on November 20, 2025, with the system making its public debut a few weeks later at the WIN Expo in Healdsburg, California, December 4.
